Susan Backofen

leigh ,

I completely agree. Getting students connected with the institution by means of a relationship with anyone (custodian, staff, faculty, etc.) is one of the single most effective retention tools.

Susan Backofen

leigh johnson

im a firm believer that while we talk about all the things that factor into the BIG "R" (retention) the single most important thing ive identified on campus that makes or a breaks a students experience and impacts their motivation to continue are the personal relationships they develop with every single person in the building from admissions rep to career counselors when they finish.

Jerry Humber

It sounds like you make every effort to ensure your students understand the material in a way that allows them to utilize the information. Making it ia relaxing and enjoyable

Lynn Guay

I believe constant interactions with the students as the instructor and engaging them with one another decreases this sense of not belonging to some degree. I also will talk to the student individually if I feel there is an issue of them "not belonging".

charles coates

I feel it is important to take time on the first day of class to go around the room and ask each student to tell you and the rest of the class a little something about themselves to help dreak the ice.Hobbies,common intrests,or what brought them to you're institution.

Susan Backofen

Philippe--

Great! Making that connection from the classroom to the 'real-world' is important for students to understand. It helps to build some motivation to master the material.

Susan

Philippe Toth

This is so true. I find that a lot of my students do not realize what will be expected of them out in the field. So I explain that the material they are learning in class is very important for their success.

Susan Backofen

James--

I heard once that the most effective teachers pressent material in several different ways to accommodate different learning styles. It sounds like you make every effort to ensure your students understand the material in a way that allows them to utilize the information. Making it ia relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere supports that. Do you use any specific tactics to help make that happen?

Susan

James Smith

Each student has to feel like they belong in the class. You have to get them to relax and enjoy the learning experience in the class. The instructor must be able to break the lecture down so everybody can understand what is being taught. Each student must be able to apply what is in the lecture to a real world application.

Val Fleming

I also think a sense of excitment by the instructor about the course is addictive to the students.

Claudia McPhail

I agree. It is important that the instructor creates a comfortable classroom for the students.

edward walker

I agree the non-verbal ques are very important. Reading your student's needs as an instructor gives you the ability to connect with them.

Susan Backofen

Richard--

As a recovering math-phobic, I appreciate your explanation of how this helps in others ways. Too late, we realize how thinking in this manner helps us in many other areas.

Susan

Susan Backofen

Thomas--

Exactly! Everything and every interaction plays a role in retention. We often take the day-to-day things for granted, but our students need our constant encouragement, support and challenge to succeed.

Susan

Richard Byrd

Many times in class, I remind the students why they are taking math. Not to just learn the problem itself, but the logic of setting up tasks and solving in them in an orderly fashion. Then we discuss how this applies to their area of training such as CJ, and CJ's orderly tasks in a case or client.

Thomas Newcomb

So what you are saying is that there are many levels to connect to the student. Having a safe and friendly environment is important but, what are they really there for, to become proficient in their fields. Everyone must contribute to the success of the student and nurture them through the obstacles they will face. Many times students lose focus of their goals and it is up the the members of that institution to keep them aware of why they are there. Instructors, staff, student organizations, and the physical environment all play a role into keeping the student interested and excited in completing their goal.

Richard Byrd

I think that many times the realtionship with the instructor is the most important selling point for any school.

The adult student wants to feel comfortable with whom they are going to be instructed.

Susan Kane

Being safe and comfortable in the environment in which we teach is very important to the success of a student in the classroom. It also seems to me that if we work to explain how the material we are teaching will actually help a student succeed in their chosen career path, we are also helping them achieve a sense of being in the right place to achieve their career goals contibuting to that sense of belonging. Often students don't see purpose in material taught, so an added layer of instruction must be developed to show the everyday value of what we teach is relevant to their chosen career. Not always easy to do, but it can also be a retention effort as well.

Susan Backofen

Jeannine--

Your point about instructors having a goal of student's feeling comfortable at the school is a good one. The impact the instructor has goes way beyond the subject matter and creating a positive learning environment goes a long way.

Susan