Hi Ted,
We as educators really serve as role models and a support system for a lot of our students. A lot of our students need us to be their biggest cheerleader.
Patricia Scales
I concur with your statement completely I too am a Veteran of USM. My daily duties require that I constantly interjet some type of motivational speech during my lecture due to some of the same situations that you mentioned in your statement as well. I alow my students to discuss topics that are somewhat personal without sharing to much detail revealing the source of conversation. This allows them to open up and become more active in discussion assisting each other. Easing my advising requirements
Hi Jacquelyn,
Students need to hear encouraging words from us. A lot of our students look up to us as their role model.
Patricia Scales
I believe that active listening is key successful advising. I have also found that developing concrete action plans for issues that arise that could hinder the students from completing their degree is also critical. A formal action plan allows students to review what was discussed and help them to understand their responsibilities in the process.
There are a number of great sites that I have used that review the action plan model.
Hi Laurna,
The action plan model is a great tool to utilize to help keep students accountable.
Patricia Scales
I agree, some students are hard to connect with, however we are still the professional so it is our responsibility to stay calm and to keep trying to engage with them. Anybody can take a great student and have them learn but skill is required to take a bad student and make them become great.
Hi David,
Yes!! A great student is the easy one to teach! Test your skills, knowledge, patience, etc. when you have to teach a student that is not as great.
Patricia Scales
Key components include having specific counselors for the non-academic and academic issues. Our college has admissions reps and faculty/program directors who double as life coaches/psychologists at any given time. It feels as though we are all expected to field all of the students' concerns and issues without individualized training and specific responsibilities. We can advise most students academically with ease, but when they are overwhelmed at home, etc., we are not much more than a sympathetic ear. Ninety-five percent of my program's drops over the last year have been life issues. Even using the developmental approach falls short because students fail to see a way to balance their lives and college and therefore stay in the vicious cycle until something gives...in which we become helpless at that point.
Hi Gayle,
I agree! It is not a whole lot we can do with their life problems, and they have a ton of them. Most of our students will make school the first thing they let go when life happens. When it fact students should make school their priority so that they can get out of their current situation.
Patricia Scales
Some of the components of successful student advising is to listen to what their issue is. Then you can make the decision to figure out how you can help them.
Student advising should start from the first day of class. I advise my students on my expectations and wheat they should expect of me. Student advising should be clear and straight to the point.
Hi Doinysius,
Listening is key! Our students need as much help as possible.
Patricia Scales
Hi Sylinda,
I concur! Students need to know exactly what the expectations are from both end. It should not be any gray in the expectations.
Patricia Scales
As a younger instructor, one challenge I have faced repeatedly is reprimanding students that are my age or older. Often times, the student becomes defensive when reprimanded by an instructor whom they view as having less life experience. I respond to this attitude by maintaining the utmost professionalism. When they see that I am firm and consistent in my cause, they usually respect my efforts in creating a professional learning environment.
Hi Kristina,
You have what it takes to reprimand any student regardless of age. I was 23 years when I started in this industry, and I never had any problems due to my age because I was always professional, knowledgeable, stern, confident, and fair. It is all in the way you carry yourself.
Patricia Scales
The first and most important part is to listen. Then, be honest with them.
Hi Terence,
You have it! Listening is key, and we do not need to sugar coat things with our students. Our students need to hear the truth.
Patricia Scales
I have better success advising students if I find a positive comment to start with. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses within themselves and everyone likes praise. Then I choose my words and approach the negative subject with a follow up of the positive outcome from the negative.
Hi Julie,
Great approach! I call this the sandwhich approach, positive, negative, positive.
Patricia Scales
What are the key components of successful student advising?
I believe Mr. Edwin Rodriguez answered this question perfectly without even answering the question. Mr. Edwin Rodriguez is perceived by his students to be a leader, one to be respected and admired, a role model. To be able to advise a student, you, yourself have to demonstrate a trustworthy character, one who is successful and one to be emulated.
