How to get the instructors on board when they tend to be blind sided?
Joseph, I think the issue here is how to prepare the instructors to expect the unexpected. Thinking and acting on your feet is a required skill for anyone who interacts with people. We all have it it just needs to be honed. Perhaps some role play in faculty meeting will get the ball rolling.
Routine training about classroom situations is important for every faculty member – not just as part of a cursory new instructor orientation. Sharing best practices is a good way to keep everyone engaged while learning from the experience of others. It also is imperative that prospective faculty members are told what to expect and that they are being hired for all their skills – not just their technical knowledge.
Joseph,
I do not know if I am answering this question the way it was intended. When I started reading the first chapter I felt that it was speaking directly to my school. I find there is terrible staff splitting. Teachers are overwhelmed, they feel they should be teaching and not focused on retention. At times it gets very discouraging. Negativity often breeds negativity. I have found the more personal contact I have with instructors the more they are willing to work with me and willing to work with the student. One occassion I had an instructor screaming at me in my office how dare I write her a note "work with the student to the best of your ability". I asked her to clarify to me what was so upsetting about this note. She could not answer. I never said she had to pass the student or go above and beyond. She perceived my note as threatening and that I wanted her to pass the student. Trying to do your job to the best of your ability should be an expectation. After speaking with her and several other teachers I have found face to face contact started making our interactions much more pleasurable. assuring them that I am not the enemy as a retention specialist, but will back them up as well if they are having difficulty with students. anyways, to make things more simple- communication is the key. The more communication I have with staff and faculty the better success I seem to have.
Communication is the key to many things, Heidi, whether it's with the instructors, administration or student. Retention is such an emotional issue with some much hidden angst that simple statements are often misinterpreted. Do you have any specific techniques that you find particularly effective when meeting with faculty members?
Communication, comunication, comunication
Thank you for sharing your experience. Instructors need to be trained about these issues. They play a key role in the process of improving retention.
What training do you do with your instructors, Luis? How do you help them understand the importance of their role with students?
It is essential that all instructors on board be aware of how they come across to everyone, yes even the students.I previously worked with an instructor that had no idea she came across like Atilla the Hun, and no one was willing to talk with her. It seems that she really did not have any idea what she sounded like when she lectured, gave replies to questions from students, etc.It was only after she attended a dinner meeting that I gave for my students when we discussed verbal and non verbal communication.When she saw the interaction in my class and saw how these same students interacted with her in her calssroom, we didn't have to say anything, she came to me.
It's great that you had an opportunity to help another instructor, Christine. The fact that she wasn't aware of the situation makes a strong case for in-class observation by her supervisor or the use of mentors when new instructors are hired. Does your school use student surveys? That's another tool that can be used to identify classroom management issues.
Christine, I have a teacher like Atilla the Hun. Even with evaluations, her response is that students need to be taught how to do an evaluation. I really like the idea of the dinner. What questions did you ask to move the discussion toward verbal and non verbal communication?
As I mentioned in Forum 2, the faculty member is very important. Im agree with you Loren. The trainings, seminars, meetings, orientation, etc., should continue throughout all the year.
We do with propspective faculty member, with new ones before starting class, and continue doing seminars and meetings. It is important to engage faculty abouth their important role...in almost all important issues; academic standards, student satisfaction, retention, modules review etc..We use lead faculty (additional fee in the payment)for helping in all these matters..it works..it is teamwork and network.
Role models can have a very powerful impact on their peers, new faculty members and the students. Do you have a formal way to recognize these leaders, Elvira?
Amen! My passion for the subject has already gotten me in trouble! From my point of view, I can see the situation with 20/20 vision. Unfortunately it is one eighty from what management sees. It is tough not to give up. I do not see any effective short-term way of changing this.
