Keeping the student focused on the outcome.
What do you do to make the student feel engaged?
Interacting with students and making them accountable is the key to making them want to come back. If a student feels that you care and you want them to succeed they will respect you and the school. It a partnership!
Any thought or other comments you have that would help retention?
Hi Lisa,
I agree with engagement as a key factor. I recently left a traditional college job for online teaching, and there is a world of difference in attitude. In training for my new position retention was repeatedly stressed as the top priority. In my old job there was almost no communication between faculty and Admissions, other than Admissions asking favors. I saw far too many students alienated quickly because their expectations were not met. Since I just started online I am really struggling with the students that are not 'showing up' and hoping this course will give me some positive ideas for helping them.
I like the phase"Keep your eye on the prize". When you take a student for the first time and show them what the most senior student is doing. The fresh stufdent can see whats expected of them.
Do you do this in a formal "field trip" format or on a more informal basis?
What are the basic differences you have experienced in the switch to online teaching, Jeff? Are the retention issues dramatically different? How about the delivery of support?
Pretty much everything is radically different! I taught at a college with average math and verbal scores close to 600 each, and now I'm in an open-enrollment situation with a much more diverse student body. Another major issue affecting retention is that online classes are less than 6 weeks long, vs. 15 weeks at my old institution. I'm in the middle of my first class and very concerned to see the amount of work turned in on time noticably declining each week. We were trained to take an active role in contacting students who fall behind, so that will be the next step for me.
I believe that engaging students begins with providing thoughtful responses to all of the standard weekly assignments, viz. Discussion, Projects and quizzes. Starting here you can indicate your degree of commitment to each student's success.
Keeping the students focuse and busy. I constantly remind them that they have made a great decision for their future.
Very well said. There has to be a focus besides a letter grade, knowledge or a newly aquired skill can take you to the next leve.
To keep students focused on the outcome they must understand it is they are expected to get out of the course. What is the final outcome…..what is the learning that should occur with the student? Terminal learning objectives state the various outcomes of the course and particular outcomes that instruction contributes to might be reiterated throughout the course (each session). It helps that the outcomes can be applied to the student’s life, and that is usually in the workplace, in relationships with people or contributing to their further education (It is a cumulative process.) One of the critical competencies of a manager, a leader or an instructor is to be able to clearly and succinctly state the mission, or what the final result looks like. (How do you know you are there?) Once stated and assumed to be understood, the roadmap to getting there is provided incrementally through course assignments and products. Again, the eye is always on learning objectives or goals. It is also the knowledge that we instructors share with students then assess whether they are “getting it.” Throughout the course it is important that the student not lose sight of the expected end result, that they have the guidance to get there or achieve it, their progress is measured and shortfalls corrected, (resources are provided in the form of additional instruction, as required) and there is agreement between the student and the instructor when all objectives have been met.
Online also has more a "you're on your own" slant especially when students do not feel that instructors care about their progress, actively guide them in the completion of the assignments (getting over the hurdles in doing so on the way). In either case (online or brick and mortar)intructors must care as much about the students' accomplishments as they do, Their trust is in you to help them make it happen.
George, do you think that the "you're on your own" slant is inherent in the online methodology? Do you have any suggestions to combat this feeling?
To help students feel fully engaged in our culture, I make sure I greet them in the hallway and ask them questions about how things are going. If they are having a problem I try to do some quick coaching, if it is a more serious problem I am sure to alert the proper staff member who can help them problem solve.
How often do you do this? Are you able to talk with each of your students?
Every day. I don't get to talk with every student every day, but over the course of a week I see, and talk with a majority of them.
I try to talk with every student in a one on one time. See how the class is going. What they are getting from it. This helps me figure out what i need to work on with that student. Or if i find several students with the same problems then i can go back and do a review.
Are you able to have these personal meetings during regular class or lab time? How often do you try to have these conversations and how long do they take?
I assume students appreciate this personal touch. Do you ever have any that reject you?
For me what works best to keep students engaged is to make them see the connection of the instruction in the classroom with the real world, to what extent what I teach them will help them interact with the practical application of what they are expected to attain when they go to the workforce.
Do you bring in speakers or visit work sites to make that point, Abraham?
Absolutely! Each day I start the class with a reflection of the material from the previous day. It is a goal each day to make sure the students connect with the subject matter. For my students, relating to each student and their learning needs is vital. I make it a point to always state how the subject matter can be utilized in the real world and give key examples for each student to relate to the course material. As instructors we have one chance each day to leave a lasting impression on our students. It is important that the impression be meaningful and constructive.
