Retention
We have discussed retetion in this module my question is some students will not be able to succeed in the field we are instructing in. I have been at a lose for words to tell these students this is not for you.
Hi Wallace,
It is true that sometimes students are enrolled in a career program for which they are not best matched. If you feel this is the case then you need to work with your school officials and the student to explore other options that they student might look at and be successful in. By finding other options for the student success can still be a part of the career options that are available to him or her.
Gary
If the student is paying the money and wants to try then we should just teach them and not judge whether they can do it or not. Students can improve and your analysis of the student could be wrong.
I have seen students early on in a program that I would have bet would not have made it in the field I was teaching. I then came across the same student much later in the program that seemed like a different student who took his education seriously and would probably be very sucessfull in the field. For this reason I never judge my students while they are at the beginning of a program.
Hi Wally
I am of the opinion that it is not our concern that students will have success in there career. I know that I did my part to provide them with the best education possible In my course. I think that if they show competence in the subject that the skills that may be lacking may develope later. I do understand your concern that a student may be wasting time and money. We still should do our best to provide an outstanding education to that student.
I have seen the same thing in my classes. Sometimes a student does not have the skill or the mental capacity to comprehend the concepts that I am trying to teach them. On the first day of class, I always ask the students where are they from, what do they want to do after their schooling (A+ plan), and what is their back up plan (A- plan) until their A+ plan becomes a reality.
We have a blind student at our school. None of the instructors there feel she has the life skills available to her, nor the family support, to be successful. She has started the program now three times and is getting nowhere. I don't really feel that she is motivated either and that she is not even sure why she continues to come there. We also don't have the time to deal with her one-on-one without detriment to other students. At what point do we suggest to her that she try another field more suited to her disability? I believe the blind services counselors have given her a bad recommendation, and they don't seem to be giving her the attention they should be.
Hi Marie,
Having worked with our state services for the blind and visually impaired in relation to a number of blind students, it is as you know critical that they receive good career counseling. Each client need help in making a career choice that is informed, meaningful and realistic for them. Sounds like this has not been the case in this situation.
I would recommend that you have your college set up a meeting with the student, the blind services counselor, instructors that this student has and a representative from the student services office. This conference would be to realistically assess the success potential for this student. After three tries it appears that success is probably not going to be achieved. Collectively you all could talk about options and alternatives that are available to this student. Often times representatives from the state services for the blind are not aware of alternatives that might be available to this student. By joining together the collective thinking of this group alternatives can be explored and recommendations made. At the end of the meeting a formal plan containing the recommended next steps should be developed so both the student and the blind services representative feel they can work together to help this student out. This way your college has been helpful but not trapped into having a student that is not going to succeed or is not motivated to be there staying on campus until he/she is asked to leave. No one wants that.
If I can be of any further help or answer any questions please feel free to contact me.
Gary
I agree with Chris!It is our job as istructors,to encourage students.It is up to us,to do what we can,to help our students,become sucessful.
I see nothing wrong by suggesting or exploring other career options.Maybe due to feeling nervous when meeting with the recutier a wrong choice was made by the student.ex.feeling rushed because of limited class enrollment space.
Yes it is part of our job to retain all the students that we can. However are we doing an injustice to the student if we allow them to finish a program when it is clear that they will not prosper from if. In a case of this nature first give the student a fair chance to try the program. Secound a group should evlauate the student. Third try to find some sort of help for the student. Given the right help or advice the student may change their mind.
Hi Eduardo,
People change and so do their career choices. Even they may have selected a career area they may not not be totally sold on it or even know enough about it to really know they want to train for it. So you are right about having more career information so they can make a career choice that is informed, meaningful and realistic.
Gary
Hi Jesus,
Good suggestions about the need for career counseling so the choices that are made by students about careers are informed, meaningful and realistic. If they aren't then the students are going to have some challenges in their preparation programs.
Gary
Everyone deserves a chance to succeed. If the student has tried several times to go through a course and continues to have problems then as a caring instructor it is our job to get that student some help, even if it means suggesting them to try some other field of study. It would be useless to have a student go to medical school when they can not stand the sight of blood.
Ask yourself would a team coach leave a player in a position if he wasn't going to be successful in that position. Just like that coach it is our duty to guide that student to a position in which he will be successful in.
Hi Ramon,
You are right about giving advice to students to try another field if they aren't finding success in their current course.
Career selection involves making a meaningful, realistic and informed career choice. If any of these three is missing then the student is not going to feel that they are enrolled in the right career area. Instructors should feel comfortable in helping students find their right career choice as they work with them in classes.
Gary
Hi Ernesto,
Right! Instructors need to help students to understand all of the components of a career so they will know that they have made the right choice or that they need to make another career choice if the fit isn't right for them.
Gary
Yes, it is unfair to the student to arbitrarily roadblock their goals. Agreed wholeheartedly!
