Working with computers, tablets, the internet , etc. is great and keeps the students interacting with the course at multiple levels. It is wonderful. But, what I see is degrading the basic things we were taught when we first enter school. Spelling and grammar are just not there if a student doesn't have spellcheck. I may be seeing it wrong, but, I still see this, and how a lot of people don't care.

Recently I had a very angry student, student did not want to be in the same class with another student. Taking the student off-line and listening to their complaint at length and then discussing the issue with both separatly, did allow me to come to a reasonable solution that both students and the rest of the class could live with.

I have been finding that students that are unfocused usually have some "devestating" problem outside of school that they can't do anything else until it is resolved. Depending on what it is, I have "bartered" a few minutes of class time to that person, in exchange for their undivided attention for the rest of the course... This works about 98% of the time and does not impact the rest of the class.

I have from time to time had to help a student out of the idea that a course is too hard, so he/she does not leave the class. Most of the time, just by letting the student know you will help/tutor or be there for them makes a world of difference.

Missed assignments in an elective result in a reduced lab grade. If a student makes up the missed hours/assignments, i will reduce the penalty by one half.

If a student has a learning disability, we cannot ask them if this is the case. They have to come to us and tell us. We are allowed to mention our policy in regard to ADA, but if we suspect a student has this condition, we can't ask them.

Using the tools available to you can help retention. BUT, you have to look in the mirror and make sure that you realize the best tool is yourself. I you are a total bore, no energy, and not positive, the student will see this and begin to become very apathetic.

There are a number things that can cause a student where he is ready to drop out of school. The instructor needs to listen to comments made by these students, just in case they say something that can be used to bring a positive result. The problem with things today, we can't ask about certain things due to Federal Privacy issues, which in my mind is somewhat counterprodutive for the student.

If I see a pattern of hours missed by a student, I have a talk with that person in order to see, without being too nosey, what is happening with him. If a student scores low on his/her test, I get involved right away, tutoring, what ever it takes to get their scores and especially their confidence level on the rise.

I find myself watching my students for that confused look, which is easy to spot, and I remind them that I can't read their minds... This will usually start the questions coming in.