Students Speak - Are We Listening?

Students Speak - Are We Listening? 2012 CCCSE Workshop at NISOD

Why focus groups? Digging beneath the numbers…Bringing data alive through student voicesThe power of stories

Using numbers (quantitative data) and student voices (qualitative data) together… The numbers tell you What. The student voices tell you Why.

My first day…

Discussion Qs • Who? • Which students do you want to hear from? • What? • What do you want to learn from them? • Why? • What data lead you to ask those questions?

Discussion Qs • Creating the Conversation • Who is your audience? Which groups do you want to engage in conversations about these issues? • What challenges do you see in conducting focus groups and sharing the outcomes ? • How will you use and share this information? • What do you want people to do with the information you gather?

Focus Group Toolkithttp://www.ccsse.org/center/iss/focusgrouptoolkit.cfm

Planning Focus Groups Recruiting Focus Group Participants Discussion Tools Analyzing/Reporting Student Focus Group Toolkit can be adapted for faculty & staff

Planning Focus Groups Selecting a Moderator and Note-taker Coordinator Responsibilities Coordinator Checklist Room Set-Up Videotaping Guidelines Consent Forms Recruiting Focus Group Participants Selecting Participants Inviting Participants Focus Group Toolkit • Discussion Tools • Moderator Do’s and Don’ts • Moderator’s Guide • Student Profile Sheet • Response Sheet – First Experiences • Analyzing/Reporting • Summary Report Sample

Planning Focus Groups Selecting a Moderator and Note-taker Coordinator Responsibilities – your team Coordinator Checklist Room Set-Up Videotaping Guidelines – upon request Consent Forms Student Focus Group Toolkit

Setting up a focus group… Entering Student Success Institute

Invite students to talk with each other… Entering Student Success Institute

Then listen to their conversation… Entering Student Success Institute

Recruiting Focus Group Participants Selecting Participants Your goal is: To gain as accurate a picture as possible of student experiences at the college. You want the good, the bad, and the ugly! Invitations & Maintaining Contact Student Focus Group Toolkit

Student Focus Group Toolkit • Discussion Tools • Moderator Do’s and Don’ts • Moderator’s Guide • Student Profile Sheet • Response Sheets

Focus Group Toolkit – Gathering Quantitative Data Along with Qualitative Information • Student Profile Form – Use to gather basic information about your participants • Additionalresponse forms can be used to complement discussion findings. Examples: • Non-Academic Responsibilities • Finances • Technology Use • First Experiences

Focus Group Toolkit - Selecting a Moderator • A time to listen, not to talk. • Choose your facilitator wisely. • Objective • Not known to participants • Not particularly knowledgeable about what the college is doing • Able to listen without showing a reaction!

Group Activity – Create a Discussion Guide • Select an OUTCOME. What do you want to learn from focus group participants? • What 3 or 4 QUESTIONScould you ask to get to that outcome? • Write OUTCOME and QUESTIONSon paper. • Select one person to share your group’s discussion guide with session participants.

Focus Group Toolkit – Moderator Guide • Sample Outcome: To understand students’earliest academic experiences with the college. • Sample Questions: Think about your first day in class at this college. What was it like? What happened on that first day or during the first couple of classes? Did any of your instructors tell you what they expect from you in the class? If so, what did they tell you? How do those expectations match your own expectations for your college experience?

Focus Group Toolkit – Moderator Guide • Sample Outcome: To understand what motivates students to pursue higher education • Sample Questions: Why did you decide to go to college? Did anyone urge you to go to college? Parents? Friends? High school teachers or counselors? Anybody else? • Sample Questions: When did you decide to go to college? While in high school? After high school? Did you work for a while before deciding to return to school?

Advice from Students: For the college: What works? What doesn’t? What could the college do better to help students get off to a good start? For new students: What do you wish you had done differently? What advice would you give your brother/sister/friend who is just starting college?

Students tell you what doesn’t work… advice…

Students cause you to rethink your choices…

Students suggest new approaches…

Students tell you what’s working…

Let’sListen! What are your next steps?

Using quantitative and qualitative data together… What do students say is the most important college service? Academic Advising & Planning 90%

Yet… 46% …say they never saw an advisor (or really aren’t sure…)

What entering students are telling us …During their first 3 weeks…71% - advisor helped them pick classes.60% - advisor helped them select a major or program.Fewer than 40% - advisor helped them set academic goals and create a plan for achieving those goals. Entering Student Success Institute

Please advise me!

Advice from Students

Students Speak - Are We Listening?