Professor Melissa HallArts Department

New Faculty OrientationWestchester Community College :: Fall 2014

Expectations vs Reality

What are your expectations?

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Expectations vs Reality

There is often a gap between expectations and outcomes

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Reality

Community College students are over-scheduled and under-prepared

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Characteristics of Community College Students

41 percent attend college full-time

19 percent of full-time and 42 percent of part-time students work more than 30 hours a week

29 percent of full-time and 37 percent of part-time students care for dependents 11 or more hours a week

Source: http://www.utexas.edu/features/2012/04/26/community_college_student_retention/

WCC Visual Arts Majors

Reality

Community College students “don’t do optional”

Image source: http://www.utexas.edu/features/2012/04/26/community_college_student_retention/

Kay McClenney, director of the Center for Community College Student Engagement

Strategies

How do we narrow the gap between expectations and outcomes?

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Strategies

What strategies can we use to motivate students to adopt the habits and behaviors necessary for success?

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Communication

Make your expectations clear

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Communication

The Course Syllabus is an excellent tool for setting clear expectations

Communication

Leave no stone unturned!

Establish clear policies about behaviors that are important to you

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Expectations

Behaviors/dispositions

Knowledge/skills

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Behavior

What kind of behavior do you expect from students?

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Behavior

•Attend class regularly

•Come to class on time

•Be “present” and engaged and in class

•Complete all assignments

•Study for exams

•Seek out help (ASC/Writing Tutorial/Office Hours)

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Attendance

What strategies can we use to encourage attendance?

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Attendance

Incentives & Rewards

•Low-stakes quizzes

•Bonus points for good attendance

•Food!

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Attendance

Low-stakes assignments & quizzes can also promote self-confidence

Engagement

How can we keep students motivated and engaged in class?

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I will dazzle them with my lectures!!!

Doris Day in Teachers Pet (1958)Image source: http://www.dorisday.net/teacher_s_pet.html

Engagement

Try to strike a balance between “information delivery” and hands-on learning

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Engagement

In-class workshops and hands-on activities promote community and active student engagement

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Exams

How can we motivate students to study for exams?

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Exams

Pre-testing is a great way to alert students to exam expectations (and ensures fewer surprises for YOU!)

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Exams

I recommend frequent and explicit grade reports

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Exams

Students don’t “do the math”

They often believe they are doing great, even when they aren’t

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Exams

Create structures to promote good study habits

Exams

Consider scheduling study workshops/meet-ups

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Assignments

How do we motivate/encourage students to complete assignments (preferably on time)?

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Assignments

Create a realistic policy for late assignments and re-submissions

Assignments

Otherwise, you may find yourself buried under a mountain of late assignments at the end of the semester

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Assignments

For high-stakes assignments, consider an in-class workshop to introduce the assignment

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Assignments

This will alert the “sleepers” that there is an assignment to be completed (unless they miss the class)

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Time Management

Make time-management part of your plan

When setting due dates, factor in the time students need to complete the work

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Rubrics

Create a rubric, and share it with students in advance

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Rubrics

If you’re not familiar with rubrics, you will be soon!

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Academic Support

How do we encourage students to make use of Academic support services?

Academic Support

Consider making it a requirement, or award bonus points

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Knowledge/Skills

What knowledge/skills do you expect your students to possess?

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Knowledge/Skills

•Read attentively/critically

•Use basic research skills

•Write thoughtful, well-developed essays and papers

•Use quotations properly and effectively

•Cite sources

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Readiness Gap

Source: http://www.highereducation.org/reports/college_readiness/gap.shtml

Academic Skills

How do we cultivate the skills needed to succeed?

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Tutorials

Consider the use of in-class workshops or tutorials

Samples

Provide samples they can look at, or even score, using your rubric

Tutorials

If research is required, consider a research tutorial, or require students to complete the Library’s Research Path

Lib Guides

Work with a librarian to set up a Lib Guide on the Library’s website

Image source: http://researchguides.sunywcc.edu/c.php?g=20459

Collaborate with WCC Librarians

Invite a librarian to your classroom, or embed a librarian in your Blackboard shell

Image source: http://www.sunywcc.edu/student-services/library/ask-a-librarian/information-literacy-instruction/

Tutorials

Use your Blackboard shell to provide links to useful resources online

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Talk to Colleagues

Talk to your colleagues about teaching – often!

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Talk to Colleagues

Never be afraid to ask for help!

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