In our training organization, it is clearly the habit of being prepared or not, that will drive their success. As there is much pre-reading and study prior to the class, it is necessary as adult learners that they understand they can not "wing-it" and must put in the time to prepare. Bad habits of lack of preparation in our classes can definitely relate to their success (or not) on the final exam.
Patricia,
Thank you for this post. What do you see as the HABEs that students most often need to develop to be a success?
I would agree... anytime you are dealing with such things as vision, habits, attitudes, beliefs, expectations, you certainly are moving into an area that is quite personal to the individual and needs to be handled well.
Yes, but only to a certain degree. Some students have issues that only the "experts" should be consulted and therefore should be directed that way and not advised. For example, I don't consider myself qualified to counsel a student for in home domestic disputes. Students see the instructor sometimes as the out for them and begin to share the issues. I might give the wrong advise on that issue.
Oliver,
Faculty members are indeed sales people. Each day we need to give students reasons to "buy" the educational opportunities and services we are providing. Drop rates increase when we forget this.
We are in the business of education as I have been told. In order to keep the revenue, students must be engaged and retained. This is a different model from traditional education.
We are in the business of selling people on themselves. We as educators are there to help student believe in themselves when they can’t! Today’s education market requires that we sell the student on the school as well as ourselves and if we do a good job then we keep student in the class room. I know that most student loose the dream of higher education because they don’t always have the correct mindset coming into school. I believe we must work daily with the students that ask for help and try to recognize the ones that won’t ask for help.
Gail,
Your students are typical for career colleges. I read that nearly 70 percent of career college students' parents had not gone to college. The report also indicated that 70 percent of traditional college freshmen are from homes where at least one parent went to college.
I agree. The majority of our students are first time college students in their family. There are broken homes, unstable lifestyles, and numerous issues that students bring to class. "Baggage in a bookbag."
Thank you, Julie. Student Services folks play a big role in a school's success.
As educators we assume many roles. We are on stage all the time. Everything we say and do can help or hinder a students learning. We are not professional counselors, doctors or pychologists but we should know how and when to suggest them to a student if need be. Always being kind, courteous and empathetic is how we want to be treated and should always to the same for our students and co-workers alike
As far as helping someone change a negative or stifling HABE, certainly we intertwine education with the mental-health field. I think of my job in Student Services as a Part-time life coach helping students discover what they want and how to get there. As an elementary educator for some years prior to my current position, I felt very much the same. At least now working with adults, I feel that I may have more of an impact on those struggling students. As adult students their "pictures" or goals are little more clear than when they are 12 and 13.
Thank you for this post, Kevin. What can you do in your class to help students get into the right frame of mind?
Thank you, John.
What are the types of behaviors for which "modification" is the most difficult?
We are certainly in more than one business, but I wouldn't say educational institutes provide "Mental Health". In my humble opinion, students come from different backgrounds to be prepared for the industry,. and the industry is a common ground where everyone wants to succeed. And so I would say career educators are more of "behavioral modifiers" because we transform students to fit in the common grounds of the industry.
Our students come from all over the country many are fresh out of high school. We're constantly dealing with thier mental health as well as trying to teaching them. If a student isn't prepared mentally they will never be able to comprehend whats being taught. Many of our students are away from home for the first time, no job, no money, in a strange place with no close friends. We have special counselers on campus to help the students no matter what the issue is so that when they come to class, they are fully prepared in mind and body.
I think as an instructor that you feel like you are not only in the education business but also in the mental health business. But I have to say that you have to be careful because using myself I am not a licensed social worker so I would never want to give advice that I could not back up or am under-qualified to give.
Thanks, Filecha. I look forward to your posts in other discussion forums.
Yes. We are an Educational Model, fit into a Business Plan.
Schools, whether for-profit or non for-profit, have a responsibility to educate the student as well as run a good business model. Both aspects are importnant.
Thank you for this post, Keila. You are correct that the entire institution has a responsibility in the development of each student's ability to face challenges and overcome them. I look forward to your future posts.
