Get Your Students Hired
It is our job as instructors to make our students feel safe, assured and happy to be attending our school. Having a positive attitude, a winning smile and being compassionate to their needs, are just some of the ways to ease their start of school.
Claudia--
As you point out, these can all be very useful learning opportunities. If we use them as such, it helps them to see the application to their profession.
Susan
Nicol--
I think you are absolutely correct. Do you have any special tactics you use to draw them out?
Susan
That can be true. As you know having students work in small groups can be benefical to making the learning experience more comfortable.
The comments show that the college experience has many elements both in and out of the classroom. Those experiences will be helpful as students move into their choosen careers.
Usually I find with students who are mostly non-verbal are shy or nervous due to the notation of thinking what peers may think about their findings or perspective.
I concur with all the statements. I also believe that students need to have a connection outside of the classroom that is still connected to college.
Sometimes we have those students who just don't click with a particular instructor. As a backup to connecting to the classroom, there should be a connection to the college. There is where civic and social groups sponsored by the college can promote bonding experiences with the college as well as their peers. Peers outside of the classroom can be that missing link to pull another peer through the program and hopefully to graduation.
Richard--
Great exercise. People are often overly critical about themselves and yes, it is sad when students seriously have nothing good they can identify about themselves.
Susan
Richard--
This is excellent. Thank you for being so diligent to help students achieve their goals!
Susan
I agree also with this Roberta and Susan.
I try to have the students think and tell five good aspects about themselves. I can name at least 100 about myself, but some students actually will say, with all seriouosness, 'there aren't any." Very sad; I will usually say "you choose to come back to school and show up." Those are two great aspects. Then I will ask the students to add three or more good remarks about the student. This greatly aids the student with self-esteem and friends.
I agree with Diane also. Many times students say a lot with non-verbal cues such as intimidation and shyness.
I sometimes go sit with the students who seem uncomfortable or ask them about their trip to school or day. The goal to make each student feel as comfortable as possible.
Often, in the hallways, I will stop a student and specifically how they are doing and what courses they are taking. Many times we discuss a topic or they will gladly tell me about their day.
Alberta--
You are so right! The instructor should try and structure the course to provide these opportunities to build relationships. This makes a huge difference.
Susan
There has to be an effort on the part of the instructor to give them a sense of belonging thru group activities and other opportunities to connect with their peers and the instructor. That way they build relationship that they hopefully will try to maintain throughout their educational path.
I also agree. It is important to pay attention to the nonverbal cues so he can better meet students' needs and help them be successful.
Stephen--
Absolutely correct...paying attention to the non-verbal clues is very important. They are not always as obvious as we might think and can make a huge difference if we notice and react accordingly.
Susan