James,
Greeting students outside the classroom can be significant.
Jeffrey Schillinger
We have student appreciation days, open houses, student focus groups, student advisory councils, a student focused facebook page, and we all walk around a lot to meet and greet students.
We do all these things, but after doing this module I realize I can do even more. Just making sure I am walking around, greeting and talking to students every day. That will make a difference.
Mary,
What else do you "advise" students about using this type of form?
Jeffrey Schillinger
We right up our students on an advisement form. Then we have our students read it and then sign the form. The advisement form is a reminder of how much time they've missed and how much time remaining until they are automatically dropped from class.
During our provisional period, as program director I meet with my students 3 times during a 28 day period. During every term I meet with every student in my programs for academic advising and each term we have program meetings.
Susan,
These are indeed best practices that all online colleges should emulate. Have you had success with synchronous communication with students?
Kevin,
Is there a reason why you stop at six weeks?
Jeffrey Schillinger
We have mentoring and tutoring sessions. For our online learners, we give a best practices seminar and follow up throughout the quarter to see how they are doing. For our new students, we will reach out to them weekly during their first 6 weeks to address issues, questions or concerns they might have.
Admissions, Records, Instructors/Program Directors all call students immediately if they are absent from a class.
Cheryl,
Perhaps your school may want to look into hiring a counselor or a counseling service.
Jeffrey Schillinger
It is sometimes hard at our school because we get mixed messages from the owner. First we get in trouble for talking to our students about personal issues or problems. Then we are told later to get involved. Then we get in trouble for discussing personal problems with them. The instructors care for our students and we just talk to them if they need someone to talk to especially if it is interfering with their performance at school. We then take the consequence from the owner.
It is sometimes hard at our school because we get mixed messages from the owner. First we get in trouble for talking to our students about personal issues or problems. Then we are told later to get involved. Then we get in trouble for discussing personal problems with them. The instructors care for our students and we just talk to them if they need someone to talk to especially if it is interfering with their performance at school. We then take the consequence from the owner.
Jill,
Great points. I believe a primary responsibility of a teacher is to keep the environment safe. This goes for physical safety as well as for conversations.
Jeffrey Schillinger
We have Managers sit in the classroom to perform evaluations. I wish they would do more, randomly pull students and ask them about the learning environment, teaching methodologies and course content. They had the students enter comments at course end review, now the students have to log into the student portal and many will not take the time. I miss the comments.
Our distance education university strives to ensure students know we care about them as individuals and want to help them reach their educational goals. Students receive an email acknowledgement (not automated) each time an assignment is submitted. Additionally, student progress is closely monitored to ensure the student is not struggling with their coursework and if they are, that they know we are here to help. We also monitor current trends in education and email students with articles which may be of interest to them. We also ensure that throughout the grading process we provide positive input followed by areas for improvement. Since implementing a consistent culture of communication with our students, we have noticed an increase in completion and retention rates.
Maintaining a good atmosphere for teaching and learning through to the end of the school year or school program
Toward the end of the semester, some students seem a little less connected to their courses. One way to maintain their connection to the faculty and to each other is to encourage all students to treat each other and you with humility and respect. Do not allow students to say any ridiculing remarks about any one else. Put downs of others are not part of good discussions. You can institute this policy any time, reinforce it and most important, model it yourself.
This is one of the tings that my current school enforces and it is written in our catalog.
Ceola,
Thanks for this post. We used to do a half way cookout in the mifddle of the term. We cut hotdogs and hamburgers in half for effect.
Jeffrey Schillinger
We always kick off the quarter with an activity.
A "Meet and Greet" cook out. Our students seem to appreciate the thoughtfulness and express that to the instructors. Making our students feel they can come to us with issues is a plus. We let them know we have this open door policy at day one and many take advantage of the offer. Greeting them when you see them in the halls, just asking them how their day is going all add up to making them feel you are concerned and paying attention to them. It really works!!!
They connect student affairs, advising and retention techniques for instructors.
Instructors are to contact students when missing work with emails, texting and phone calls.
