I have learned that injecting some humanity into the learning experience by being fair and engaging, as well as a bit of humor and encouragement will get and keep students involved and improve success.
"A Mathematician and a statistician meet a genie on the road..."
Learning about your students can help drive the way you teach content.
Student retention relies on so many factors. As the title states, “General Strategies.” Strategies, while specific, usually have general results. What remains is that student retention requires an instructor to at one time be as light-hearted as a late-night talk show host and at other times be as stoic as an airline captain during take-off or landing. Given that students come in all “shapes and sizes” the instructor must be a chameleon in that the leadership style they foster has to model their student’s expectations and their own strategies for succeeding in the course but also in life.
It isn’t enough to have a light-hearted pizza day. If 28 out of 29 students are experiencing pizza euphoria and one of the students is experiencing doldrums, the instructor has to consider that individual. It would be awesome if pizza or ice cream could quell the acrimony a student is experiencing because of their class performance due to an off-campus disruption. Yet, the show must go on. The instructor must do what is best for the many while at the same time a smidgen of focus on those that might not feel so celebratory remains a factor.
Human factors that set the stage for student success is dependent upon respect for participation. An instructor’s outward respect for participation is paramount and deserves personal attention so as to set a stage that is inclusive yet exclusive. This kind of learning environment is open for all to participate so that goals and expectations will be met by the majority of students.
Keeping things light in the beginning will take the edge off for the students and the teacher. Learning in an acceptable environment helps students thrive and succeed.
It's very important to make every student feel comfortable and cared about in the classroom, even in adult education classes.
How having fun and having a genuine interest in the content and thrill of teaching helps student motivation.
Starting the class with lighthearted moments not only helps students settle in but also establishes a positive and engaging atmosphere for learning. By creating a space where students' feel comfortable and connected, educators can better gauge student's readiness and establish rapport.
Always remember to be encouraging and keep things fun.
This course was a reminder to sometimes let the class discussion flow along naturally with the students and not necessarily every planned point on my prepared outline.
Treating people cordially, daily interactions, showing to them the realistic goals to be achieved in bite size bits, seems logical but became more aware of while reading this module. creating a warm welcome learning environment is important to their success within their chosen industry.
By learning students names there is an added level of comfort to the class.
Hold students accountable for the lesson they have to learn by allowing them to ask questions that keep them engaged.
We must avoid creating intense competition among students, and you must tell students how they can succeed in your class.
Building trust and rapport with students is essential for success!
Take the time to learn your students and it opens up the learning environment.
It's important to incorporate all teaching methods in order to ensure that your students are getting the best delivery.
"I've learned that being enthusiastic about the subject you're teaching is crucial to keeping students engaged. If you're bored, they will be bored too. It's also okay to inject some fun into the classroom, as long as it's controlled. A little healthy competition among students can be beneficial, but it's important to keep it from getting out of hand. Too much competition can give students the wrong impression of the class. Additionally, setting high expectations is necessary, but it shouldn't be the only focus. We must also prepare students for the real world and let them know that it's up to them to take what they learn and apply it in their lives."
Enthusiasm, personal attention, providing feedback, and respect lead to an environment that promotes active learning.
Students are engaged and want to learn through different ways, so the instructor needs to be diverse in teaching methods to engage all students.
I was blessed to have thought a human bio class to a group of students who worked as CNA's, LPN's etc.
The class was full with laughter as each student could hardly wait to interject the lecture with their own experiences at the work place.
This created a fun and hyperactive learning environment.
This course has served to reinforce several aspects of teaching including "the human factor" which does play a huge role in student engagement during lecture.
