What formats do you use to create a positive learning environment?
Between class we have instructors in class rooms to help students with academic problems for each course offered. Also when a student reaches test scores that show a downward trend an intervention email is sent to an EM who over sees the course. This is sent after the instructor has talked to the student about the issue. This action brodens the resorces for the student.
How much time do your students have between classes? Is it enough to do meaningful tutoring?
We have counselers that students talk to,
it all starts with the instructor,they are your #1 defense.
We track students grades and progress through a formal intervention program and also have listed guidelines as to when to engage with a student.
--Excessive time out
-- Failing grades
To prevent academic stagnation at our schhol we employ both a mentoring program and a tutoring program. If a student is having problems getting good grades we as insructors refer him to these departments.
My school tries to make sure students have jobs and housing when they arrive.
When Tutors lose respect for themselves after not scoring as well on a exam as they thought they should. It is very inportant to re-enforce their ability to tutor other students and not feel as though they have failed the program or themselves.
From time to time the school looks at the curriculum and evaluates what needs to be done in order to improve it or update it. Re writes of the curriculum happen with enough frequency to keep the material interesting and useful. We, as instructors are encouraged to use variety diverse methods of teaching the material.
As Instructors we look for warning signs like poor grades, attitude changes,attendance problems,etc. we send out pull slip when these signs pop up from there the E.M.s meet with them and in most cases it works and we keep them in school the sooner you see the warning the better chance you have retaining the student.
We have advising forms that our instructors fill out if a student is at risk, after they are turned (daily) the Education Manager or Chief instructor will make contact with the student to see if there is anything that can help the student.
Does your institution have any training programs to help instructors recognize the warning signs? Do faculty members share best practices?
What other responsibilities does the Education Manager have? Do they also teach? How is their performance evaluated?
We have a tutoring program in place for when a student starts to stagnate that allows the student more of a one on one with an instructor to help them understand the material for not just taking the course or chapter test but also to help them prepare more importantly prepare them to succeed in the field in thier chosen career.
Who staffs the tutoring center? Is is regular faculty members who rotate through or are these people permanently assigned to the center? Do you use students to help?
There is a permenant staff member on hand and student tutors
We have a tutor program. As an instructor if we have a student struggling we can generate a tutor ticket and the student is provided with several options to help them out.
Academic erosion can be the result of fear. This is particularly true at our school where most students have been out of the school system for 10-15 years. In orientation we explain how fear immobilizes people. They cannot be rational and this affects their capacity to remember what they are learning and generally to do well. Often students are surprised how brain research gives us clues to our own behaviour and thus, how we can create barriers to our own success. I find that orientation is a key factor for student success and retention.
We have what we call "midterm conferences". This enables an instructor to notify Administration within 2 weeks from the beginning of term that a certain student may be not keeping up with classwork, homework or even attendance. The assistant Dean will then call the student to the office and they can sit and see what problems the student may be having. They may have a transportational issue, child care, or work interfering with their ability to attend or concentrate on classwork.
Orientations can be a very useful tool to acclimate entering students. Unfortunately, they frequently lapse into a litany of thy shalt/thy shalt not.
Do you re-introduce the concepts later in the students' time on campus? The message about fear is particularly worth re-visiting as the students face the first round of exams.
