Our campus just started a new group of students. We had a studnet concerned that she would not fit in or be able to participate in class to the best of her ability. After a conversation on the evening of orientation explaining the process of proper draping (we teach massage therapy and skin care). Then a few check-ins with her over the first two days of class she is feeling more confident and like she is fitting in with her classmates. She has mentioned she is happy she made the decision to attend our school.

I really enjoyed the course.

Periodically when teaching the FOR class, I will follow up for a few terms with an email to the student asking how the term went or provide an encouraging word when I see the student on campus. In addition, the smile in the hallway always provides an uplifting moment for the student and me! I enjoyed the RT104 course! Teamwork is critical to the success of our students. 

I find that students appreciate a genuine smile, interest and verbalize words that show you are there to help them be successful.

And, they know when you mean it.

The best takeaway that I had was to have each faculty member pick a different set of 5 students to engage in a postive manner each week. I think this is important because some students naturally seek the attention and receive it.  What I expect from this action is that the students who do not normally get attention will now be actively given attention. Using this formula, and within the academic year, each student will have had individualized attention at least 11 times.  That really is not that much and maybe not even what they need, but it is better than what they might normally get if they are naturally… >>>

One of the better courses and higjy releveant to any campus

I am a career Veterinary technician. In that role I have "taught", "been a teacher", "trained" and written multiple policies and procedures. I have not until now been an instructor. I have always heard that in order to learn is it better to teach. i have never found this to be a comfortable place to begin from. i have always wanted to learn from an expirienced individual then pass that knowlegde on once i have mastered the techniques.

In this chapter of my life and am allowed the privilege of doing both! My expirience brings the abilty to graduate a… >>>

We should provide the best customer service to our students because  if we don't have students we would not be teachers.We should treat them how we want to be treated if we were students.

I will put into practice the suggestion of having practice interview sessions. We already do a mock interview, but this will provide a lot better way for them to prepare for the interview held before panelists in the industry for what they're applying (part of a mock company I set up in the course to allow them to have an employer to apply to). In this class, we already work with resume skills, and the idea to have them lists weaknesses, strengths, abilities, etc. was a great first day class activity to get them thinking more about their resumes and… >>>

i like this course, is going to hel pe on my costumer service's skills, Thanks!!

One thing I have done when I have a student in externship who seems to be faltering is to impress upon them how their performance during their externship directly affects their job prospects in the future. Just as it said in the course students have to be excited about future job prospects and about actually getting out into the workforce. I said to my student,  "whether you know it or not, right now you are beginning your professional career including your professional reputation which also includes future references for your resume". Students can be motivated by the thought that externship… >>>

I am not in admissions, but I can see that a student who has interest in the field from the beginning almost always does well. Our admissions personnel does a great job in taking time with each student during the admissions process.

Its hard to determine the boundary line between getting involved in a students personal life and remaining a professional instructor. I do see the relevence being we are with our students daily and can offer guidance in a productive way. Simply listening and allowing the student to vent is effective and relieving to them when we can assure them that the stressor isnt so stressful. Sometimes you just need to  listen. Great point!

Just a very easy tip. Remembering names actually helps students participate. Not remembering names makes a student feel anonymous, or that there is no personal attention. Remembering names makes them liable to participate.

As a lead instructor I read many student evaluations on both the instructor and class. There is one word that comes up consistently either positively or negatively. CARE, positively - the instructor took the time to know me and CARED about my education. Negatively- The instructor could CARE less if I succeeded or failed. Teaching is pretty simple if you stop and think about it.

I think one of the hardest things that we deal with in higher education is keeping the students motivated and successful.  So many of our students have so many outside problems/issues going on that they become very unfocused.    So for my feeling, it is very hard to continually work with all of the outside distractions.

Much of what was learned in the course added to my knowledge. I have served in various roles in organizations, most recently serving internal and some external clients, along with providing training both on-line and on ground campuses. First, the business models that focus on revenue/profits get to this point by insuring internal and external customers are treated well. This allows initiatives to be met and long term outcomes reached. In additon, to this it is critical from an instructor/facilitator standpoint that the customer (e.g. student) is the center of attention. My focus is to always be "positive" and do all possible to… >>>

Personally, I know that my job presents the challenge of having to balance the completion of administrative work with the ability to have enough face time with students. In the future, I think I will try to maintain a level of awareness with regards to the fact that are both are essential in trying to provide a great experience to my students. It's not all about paperwork.

This article about orientation and how the first week/day for students should be is amazing. They point out great factors and ideas on how an orientation should be for students.

As an insturctor, I have been using some of the retention strategies discussed in this course, but I intend to implement others presented. I have always felt that it was discouraging to see students that could succeed academically just disappear from the classroom as the result of other factors in their lives. While I realize that some things are beyond my power to affect, employing strategies in the "instructors' toolbox" should at least improve the numbers.

I have seen how interstudent relationships increase student commitment to each other, their programs, and the school, so one of my plans is to… >>>