Student Success: 50 Ways to Help our Learners

Student Success:50 Ways to Help our Learners FOL 2012 Janis Michael Cath Kenney

What are your goals for this workshop?

Shift Happens http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAyaFjStTxI

Why do people leave school? Let’s brainstorm some ideas together. If we know why they leave, we can help change it.

What is Retention? • Students succeeding in a course or program • Students staying at the college • Part of retention is directing them to the best career path for them • Does it mean I have to pass everyone?

Key Performance Indicators Since 1998, colleges have been mandated by the Ontario government to collect and report performance data in five areas: • graduate satisfaction, • student satisfaction, • employer satisfaction, • employment rate • graduation rate. • Gathered by an independent research company, the KPI results show that Ontario’s colleges achieve consistently high results when measured by students, graduates and employers.

Benefits of Retention • Self esteem of learners. • Skilled workforce with higher earning power. • Baby boomers are retiring. • Economic benefits to college. • Canada in a global economy. • A better educated society leads to fewer societal problems. • The more students we have, the more likely we are to keep our jobs. 

Who are your learners? • Just graduated from high school. • Took a gap year or two. • Some are very highly motivated, some are quite unmotivated. • Mature student, with or without children. • What do their life experiences bring? • Stay tuned for Friday’s student panel…

How do your students learn? • Be sure to include at least one item in each lesson that appeals to the various learners: • Thinker • Doer • Watcher • Feeler Stay tuned for more this afternoon…

Results are in: Greatest student success comes from: • Faculty who are: • Available and accessible • Understanding and professional • helpful and provide feedback • Classes which have: • Real world relevance • Projects/ cases (skills) • Course scheduling

Initiatives and Resources • We are not alone. We have a great deal of resources. • Student Success Specialists. • Counseling Services • Support for students with disabilities. • Mid-term/At Risk Evaluation Meetings. • Promotion and Evaluation Meetings. • Photography program Program Management Team. • Greater need for "bridging" students into first year including needs assessment.

50 Ways to Help your Students(based on lyrics “50 Ways to Leave your Lover” by Paul Simon)

Don’t make a new plan, Stan. The course outline is a legal contract and cannot be changed. Ensure your students understand clearly their obligations to the course. Work with other faculty in your program to ensure evaluation is spread out so that students don’t become overwhelmed. Blackboard calendar is a great tool for this. Create a syllabus that clearly outlines all work that needs to be completed, highlighting the dates and stick to it. Refer to it often – multi-tasking leads to an inability to concentrate – reminders help. Ensure your evaluation matches the outcomes.

And get yourself free Set standards for what you want for the students. Discuss what plagiarism is and set up assignments that prevent the practice. Teach group work before you expect students to work well within a group. Set a code of professional behaviour based on your industry standards and encourage your students to follow it. Deal with conflicts early before any escalation.

Don’t need to be coy, Roy. Be open regarding all contact with students – especially evaluation. Treat all students fairly – the perception of fairness goes a long way toward earning the trust of your learners. Be generous in dissemination of information – the more the better. Be generous and work closely with your colleagues – be a role model for how to behave in a professional environment. Recognize and reward success.

Don’t slip out the back, Jack. Keep a daily active presence – especially in online courses and in courses where you only see the students face to face once a week. On the first day, let students know when they can expect communication with you and stick to it. Identify your “at risk” students early and let them know you are here to help. Give early formative assessment. Collaborate with Student Support Services (Counseling, Tutoring, Centre for Students with Disabilities, Financial aid, Student Success Specialists, etc.). Collaborate with other faculty to find “cross-curriculum” projects.

Don’t just listen to me…..1. Put it in writing. 2. Say it aloud. 3. Repeat it.4. Reinforce it (Pair/Share, help set up study groups.5. Remind again.

Hop on the bus, Gus Take your students on a field trip. Take them on a virtual tour. Bring in industry professionals. Create ways to have students work with industry professionals. Connect first year students with students in work placement. Encourage students to work with students from other areas of the college. Promote college engagement.

Don’t need to discuss much • Student engagement is key. Use Active Learning Techniques. • Use Collaborative Learning Techniques • Use Discussion boards on your Learning Management System • Get the students talking to one another – it helps them learn. • Let your students come up with the questions.

Just drop off the key, (to success) Lee Create authentic evaluation that is transparent. Create a rubric or something similar that allows the students to see how they can improve. Vary your methods of evaluation so that all students can be successful. Take your tests before you give them and add on time for the students. Don’t test what you have not yet taught. Make turnaround time your priority – students can’t add to learning if they don’t know what they’ve done wrong. Discuss results in class as well as on line. Review areas of difficulty and reinforce learning. Establish a 24 hour rule. Establish communication with students that were not successful and create a plan for success.

I wish there was something I could do to make you smile again • Studies show a positive link between a strong orientation program and student success.An effective orientation can span a couple of weeks to avoid information overload. • Let students know first day they will be successful and you want them to be. • Create an environment that promotes respect and the joy of learning. • Make a connection with each student. Knowing someone cares can have a powerful effect. • Use humour appropriate to the classroom and don’t be afraid of having fun. • See the positive in each and every student - you don't choose your students but you can choose your attitude toward your students - not all students are there for the reason you want them to be there. • Take good care of yourself – students can’t be successful if you’re not there!

Do you teach or do you educate? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0fJKvdjQgs

Keep in Touch  Cath Kenney kenneyc@algonquincollege.com Janis Michael JMichael@sl.on.ca www.youtube.com/watch?v=91euERWH2M4

Student Success: 50 Ways to Help our Learners