#student efficacy

[anukumarme]

Student Engagement Strategies

Appreciate each individual as an individual, with differences and commonalities amongst each other. As the class is a blend of students of different personalities, different types of learners, different styles of learners, so should be the techniques of the instructor to keep them engaged.

Some of the techniques, which I found effective and can be used in the class easily, are:

Use of movement: Through colors and of course through physical movement, you can add movement in the class. Use of different colors of markers on the white board for illustrations, to explain a process helps to differentiate and categories the content. This makes the understanding of the concept easy. They associate the color with the process and helps in the retention of the content. Sitting next to the students to explain, to identify their concerns and needs can be helpful in building relationship.

3-2-1 summarizing: The students of a class are asked to mention 3 things that they have learnt today, any 2 things that they found interesting and 1 thing that they find difficult and have a question to ask. To share this thought, technology can be integrated to share their views. They can also share this with the peers and if the peers can answer the question that they have, will initiate collaborative learning.

Enhance Student efficacy: Increasing the level of challenges gradually, which the students feel is achievable and still not too easy that will lead to loss of interest can help to enhance the self-efficacy of the learners. Motivation, encouraging their efforts will increase their expectancy of successfully achieving the goals and objectives.

Using a combination of the techniques in your classes can help to engage the students, develop their interest in the subject and keenness in learning, thereby making them control their learning and take charge of it.

References

Hurst. Stacy (September 18, 2013): Seven Ways to Increase Student Engagement in the Classroom, Reading horizons website Retrieved on March 26, 2016 from http://www.readinghorizons.com/blog/seven-ways-to-increase-student-engagement-in-the-classroom

Student Engagement: 5 Ways to Get and Keep Your Students’ Attention (August 19, 2015), Learning Sciences Marzano Center Website Retrieved on March 26, 2016 from http://www.marzanocenter.com/blog/article/5-ways-to-get-and-keep-your-students-attention/

Weimer. Maryellen (July 26, 2012): 10 Ways to Promote Student Engagement, Faculty Focus Website, retrieved on March 26, 2016 from http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/10-ways-to-promote-student-engagement/

[u100facultyfavorites]

This compact overview of the importance of mindset (Carol Dweck) for successful learning is written by experts, but for student readers, to whom the piece is addressed. 2,623 words. Sample:

"Success most often comes from effort and learning strategies, not intelligence. If intelligence earned you a grade of A on the first test and then you failed the second test, did you suddenly become stupid? Of course not. For the first test, you used the right study strategies and put in enough effort to earn an A. When you failed, something was wrong with your level of effort and strategy. It may be that the material was more difficult and needed additional effort."

More on mindset for CSUN faculty: http://www.csun.edu/afye/Mindset-and-Strengths-Workshop.html

Directly relevant to U100 Assessment SLO #3: "Describe ways in which you are an agent in your own academic success." (More U100 SLOs at http://www.csun.edu/univ100/Student_Learning_Outcomes.html

[u100facultyfavorites]

Editing Your Life's Stories Can Create Happier Endings

Writing about a troubling event and revising the story in a more positive light can improve life.

This short NPR story has a lot of links and includes a writing exercise. If you ask students to consider doing the exercises, you need to tread lightly given that most of us don't have counseling expertise and are not really equipped to administer therapy. (See the similar cautions in the previous post about students feeling like impostors.) Still, like the new 2013 Counseling video Mark Stevens has shared, and his ExCEL workshops, this sounds promising.