comparing the purchase of education to the purchase of a house - bring home the huge risk a student takes choosing a school and a program.  Many walk into education - not really able to grasp the opportunity or to mount the skills needed - at least initially, and need extra coaching and guidance.  The real job is not to just keep a student/pass a student, but to equip and train a student to become self directed and capable.  A strong mentor can go a long way but cannot substitute from the work the student must do.  An instructor/leader has… >>>

There are a myriad of types of support that can be offered to students.  I like the idea of seminars - offered by people outside of the program, to provide a variety of support voices.

I look forward to discussing the 8 stages of intervention with the Program Directors and faculty in my Division.  These are a great foundational approach with a student that is exhibiting academic or attendance issues.  IT is doable when time is limited. .(e.g. 15 - 30 min).

'feeling unimportant' and 'dead-ended'   - faculty can have a HUGE effect on how a student sees themselves by helping the student to feel seen.   The school/program/PD can help to combat the stress associate with worry about the career choice, helping to facilitate their belief in the calling they are running towards, and how the sacrifice will pay off if they stick to it. 

I especially relate to the idea of understanding necessary and unnecessary caused of attrition.  Some things are unavoidable (health, family emergency) - but creating a culture where students 'work with staff on day to day issues before they become insurmountable' and preventing unnecessary attrition.  Understanding culture creation is powerful.

I intend to apply using a variety of methods to teach in the classroom to engage the variety of learners and learning styles.  We are teaching a complex topic in a new online way and I think additional tutoring will be necessary for remedial learners - I am designing a self guided tutorial system to engage those who need extra help in games and interactive review.  (this is all in my mind, I haven't built it yet ...)

Havighurst theories - of the three shared with us, I least relate to his theories and find his stages to be too consertive in nature e.g. 'select a partner', start a family' - I also think his timeline is dated.  There are more options and what is expected is not as rigid within each age timeframe.