RETENTION:WHAT CAN YOU DO?TIPS FOR THE CLASSROOMKate La Pierre

Fort Wayne Campus

burkkster@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION

Teach Communication and IVYT classes PhD Cognate work in pedagogy Wife of an Ivy Tech Grad Mother of 3 Ivy Tech Students

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

WHAT AIDS RETENTION?TrainingIntervention – Early and often

Connection

RETENTION 101FIRST KNOW YOUR STUDENTS

What do we know about our student body?First Generation StudentsGetting YoungerThey have complicated lives outside of school

Woman (more than Men)

FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS

•They don’t know the culture of college- no one they know knows the culture•Need to learn academic citizenship

WHAT YOU CAN DO--- Be Prepared to Coach not just teach

You aren’t just a delivery system of information you are a teacher of students

These students need to be told how to learn

Introduce yourself- What should they call you?

Take the time to explain things you never have before

PREPARE THEM

MY SYLLABUS IS 12 PAGES LONG Clear attendance policy Clear testing policy Clear rules for the classroom

Ex: Texting/cell phones

Make sure they know how to contact you No question is a dumb question Don’t under estimate the power of pass time

GETTING YOUNGER

Expectations and demands have changed Media driven Consumer mentality

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Stay current- Never underestimate the

credibility of pulling up You Tube in the classroom.

We have amazing media available – use it Use the computer- they do

COMPLICATED LIVES

Most students also work, Juggle families, etc. Money stress- know when the $ comes in

WHAT YOU CAN DO-Remember Tip #1- teach them how Be UnderstandingFollow the Mamma rule-

Play tough- lighten up laterBe clear on your expectations -

Beware of the early announcements

WOMEN VS. MEN

Time for a little Communication Theory

There is a difference between Men and Woman

Woman form connection by talking.

Men form connection by doing

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH MY CLASSROOM?

Men are connected by the traditional paradigmI’m here, I’m doing the work

Woman need to feel connected to the people in the classWant to know the names of those

around themNeed you to know them

What you can do-

Say “Hi” before you begin lecturingName tagsFoldersSign in sheets w/ all contact infoNotes cards

OTHER IDEAS FOR CONNECTION

Getting to know you activities- Not just for the first day- Create a culture of connection

Man style: Stand up- Sit downSuccessful Beginnings for college teaching by Angela Provitera

McGlynn

Woman style: BingoOrganize by geographical regions

Give them reasons to exchange phone numbers/contact info

CLASS DISCUSSIONS BY STUDY GROUPS

Start a discussion by having small group discussions – maintain those groups.

Warms them up and makes connections

They will keep up with each other

MID SEMESTER PEP RALLY

Students are tired, sick and stressed

Good time to remind them of how far they have come

FINALLY What do you want for an outcome? How can you make the connections?

Pay attention this conference- how much more connected are you to the people from this session than from other straight lecture sessions?

Our Students want to Succeed and Stay in School

We just have to be willing to show them how!