Joel Campbell

Critical to establishing a pattern of teaching is accessibility. Facilitators need to be available to their students regularly in order for students feel as though they have guidance if they need it. Second, facilitators need to reach out to students who appear to be struggling with the course. Being proactive with student who don't get the pattern immediately need additional guidance until they develop their own process.

First, when considering tools for online classes one must consider the software required to complete tasks. If students need to purchase additional software this could be an obstacle to the process. Second, the tool must achieve the outcomes consistently. If not, other tools should be considered. And third, cost. there are wonderful tools out there, but can you justify their cost. Searching for open source options is a good place to start. If none are sufficient to meeting outcomes, then look for proprietary options.

A very important consideration PRIOR to utilizing social media is to discuss proper online etiquette. Doing so up front should prevent issues later. Controversial topics can lead to heated discussions and/or flaming. Below is a good list of core rules. http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html

Adult students in particular want to see the relevency in everything they do. In part I believe this is because they have experienced situations where they felt like their time was wasted in a meaningless activity. Adult students make a lot of sacrifices to go back to school; child care, work arrangements, borrow large sums of money, etc. As a result they expect a meaningful return on this sacrifice. Relevent activities reinforce why they are here and they see a direct and immediate benefit to making the choice to return to school.

The human factor is critical to Education as a whole, not just retention. Students to feel valued and sense of purpose. If we create an environment that treats them as individuals with respect and concern, retention will be a positive side effect.

After teaching the same course quarter in and quarter out it is very easy to get too comfortable and become complacent. even the jokes have become stale. :0) It is important to continually ask yourself why you teach a concept or skill a certain way and regularly look for a better or different way to achieve the same result. Even though you've taught the course many times, you should prepare as though it's the first time.

My goal in preparation for lessons is to hit as many different learning styles as possible within that lesson. So I will write notes/outline on the board prior to class (visual), then discuss the notes (auditory), show a supporting video (visual/verbal), then create a group activity (interpersonal/physical), then an individual assessment (solitary/intrapersonal). If each lesson encomapsses multiple styles there is a good chance a majority or students will retain some element of the Lesson.

I think it's unrealistic to expect everyone in an organization to "buy in" to the mission to the point where everyone is contributing to the common good, due to high turnover, policies, individual personalities, or simply the challenges the industry presents. A realistic goal is to have a climate where a majority of the organization is working for the common good, but actively trying to bring the others along. Not to be pessimitic, but the culture described is obviously an ideal to be strived for, but rarely reached.

Little things like attire, smiles, handshakes, welcoming statements go a long way in creating a positive first impression that are lasting. It's amazing how vivid student's memories are of that first day in class and things you said that first day. It's a very important day for them, so it's critical your impression is positive.

Although we do a lot of "counseling" in this industry, we are not in the Mental Health business. Mental Health professionals deal with much more serious conditions, addictions, etc. that we are not trained to handle. We do however perform more "life coaching" than a traditional higher education as well as academic counseling, but we are not in the Mental Health business by any stretch.