Get Your Students Hired
Teaching style has a very large impact on retention in my opinion. I have wittiness students leave classes and want to go to a different class just because of the interaction from instructors. Just by keeping the students engaged in activities means a great deal in some learning styles.
Mark,
And the best way to do that is to share workplace or war stories relating the course content. You got the right idea.
Dr. Larry Banks
Try and make the class as interesting as possible to keep interest. I remember only one instructor, his name was Chet, when I worked at an Air Force base. He could make the most boring subject seem interesting.
I believe this is extremely important in all types of schools, particularly trade schools. I make sure to try to add in each teaching style (when possible) to my classes to make sure the students remain engaged in the topic. Retention also is affected since it makes the student feel more connected to the class.
Richard,
I agree that teaching style goes along way with retention. I have also seen students want a particular instructor and others not want the same one. Each student is different.