Thanks, Judith.
What do you do to inspire the students who do not come to us with clearly defined goals?
I find that the most successful students have a definate goal. They are there to increase their knowledge, graduate, and secure stable employment. They are the ones who usually have dependents.
Thank you, Bree.
These are indeed common habits found in successful students. What are some specific things you do to try to influence your other students to adopt similar HABEs?
Some of the habits I notice with our most successful students are that they show up early before class to get in extra time. Stay late after class to help other students. They always seem to have a positive attitude and even when something doesn't go their way they are not discouraged and continue on their path.
Good point. We cannot force these attitudes upon students. We have to create an environment in which they see us model the behaviors and attitudes we are looking for and that leads them to motivating themselves.
I don't think we as instructors can. I think it's ultimately up to the individual but we can offer structure, guidance, mentorship and support on their journey. If they choose to utilize these concepts then they can flourish.
Thanks, Jacki.
What can we do to bring other students up to the same levels of persistance and dedication?
Paying attention and being serious those are probably the best qualities I see in a successful student. Paying attention is big on my list due to the complexity of my course subject matter (basic electrical). A student who misses one aspect of electricity will lose out on the rest because it builds on each other. A serious student will look at the whole picture. I am not talking about a student who is militant about school but one who can find a balance between fun and academics. The normal things like organization and good study habits are also key. I am also one of those who does not think that ADD is a viable exscuse for some of our students concentration issues. I do believe that it is up to the instructor to encourage good habits and to make learning a "fun" experience.
Many times it seems as if this is the "normal" lives of our students. I agree, it can seem like an outpatient counseling center. That's one of the great things about SRS. It takes the responsibility of counseling the student off the instructor and staff and gives the student an outlet. For those of you who aren't aware, this is a free service provided by our school to each student. The student can call a toll free number and talk with licensed ptofessionals who can direct them to sources that meets their needs.
Many of my most successful students have had a positive attitude. They aren't always sure they can do it but they know they're going to give it a good try. When they have a bad test grade, a bad week or personal problems that get in the way, they pull themselves back up and dive in again; persistance and dedication. Once they get through a few hurdles and gain confidence, then they know they can do it even if they may have setbacks occasionally.
Thanks, Rick. The students who come to us willing to try new things and open to new ideas are usually pretty successful. What are some things you do to help the students who do not come to us with those attitudes to develop those attitudes?
One key traits I see with successful students is their willingness to try something different and be open to new ideas. They are open to suggestion and many times will act or attempt to improve. Less successful students make excuses as to why they cannot try something new and they are not open to suggestion. Possibly it is the fear of the unknown. There is comfort in the same thing even if it dosen't work as opposed to being daring and trying something in which you do not know the outcome.
This one is a bit tricky. In some cases we really can't involve family. I have even had cases where the spouse did not even know their partner was in school. (Again, I am online.) We can provide resources if the student gets into a bad situation but only on a referral basis.
I think we just need to make help very available and visible. I am in an online environment so it's even more difficult. We need to "advertise" it. We do a student newsletter and we often run a feature on a past student. These are inspiring to most and often these students share their struggles and mention how the school provided support.
Thanks, Sondra.
What are some things we can do to inspire students who would not normally do so to reach out for help?
You are absolutely correct, Sondra. Colleges need to be aware that the family influence, especially the spouse, is a major factor in persistence decisions.
Are there some specific things your college does to keep the family involved and supportive?
I think a non-supportive spouse/partner is a HUGE factor in dropping out. We do an interview with all new students and we talk about having a support system in place. (This also gives us a heads-up when a student does not have a good support system.)
One main thing I see with our successful students is that they don't give up and they reach out for help when needed. The ones who drop out tend to struggle from day one....poor attendance from the start being the first clue. Making excuses is the other.
Thanks for sharing this, Dee! This is a great strategy!
I have a similar approach - I have the student envision their goal, and where they want to be. Sometimes this can help them refocus and remember why they are going through the effort. For nursing students about halfway through their program, I play a video of nurses in action during the Hurricane Katrina disaster - they see the actions and efforts of the nurses, and it reminds them that in a few more months, if they continue to work hard, they will also be nurses.
