John Bart

Instructors must be well-organized and prepared to deliver. They also need to explain why the subject matter is important. 

Advising students is two-fold. Provide the students with some direction. Allow the student to make their own decision. The advisor must be knowledgeable of the polices and procedures, but must also be an excellent listener. 

True listening requires practice. Acknowledge students with questions so you understand what they are saying. Let the student speak 80% of the time. 

Students are customers, but not in the same sense as business customers. Instructors must be attentive to students' concerns, but always remember the task at hand: education. 

Being aware of the factors that impact adult learners is very helpful for retention. The reasons why they enroll and drop out are different than the traditional student. Addressing these in the classroom and the institution will help with retention. 

Portfolios and Skill Badges set students apart from other potential new hires. They show the student what they have accomplished and created value for themselves. What students post on the internet is important to potential employers. 

Asking for student support with technology is a great tool to develop an openness and rapport with the students. 

Students need to feel the instructor has their back. Instructors need to ask for feedback. Student input provides student buy-in. 

Student investment requires students to think that there is more than just learning the subject matter. The instructor must paint a broader picture. Connect the dots. 

1st week sets the tone. It helps the student decide whether they will return for week 2. Late enrollees should receive the same info that others received during orientation.