Summer break is coming to an end, and getting back into the swing of things isn’t easy for everyone.
The transition from summer break to the fall semester occurs so quickly that many students struggle to get back into the routine of attending class and completing assignments. With this in mind, the professors at the university prepare themselves and their students for the upcoming semester.
There are many ways that professors can help their students start the semester strong, which include recognizing previous students’ successes along with addressing their struggles.
Heide James, a professor in the school of education, has taught various classes ranging from entry-level to more advanced courses. She has implemented a teaching method to ensure that students are having more success in the classroom by basing her curriculum around their needs and goals.
“I do my best to model practices that I want my class to use when they are working with students in the field,” James said. “For example, I use rubrics and explain assignments multiple times, provide timely, specific feedback about student work and regularly welcome questions face-to-face. Also, using Pear Deck provides students the opportunity to ask questions anonymously.”
Giving the students the opportunity to answer questions anonymously helps them stay engaged while learning. Students often are afraid to answer questions in front of a class filled with their peers. The anonymous option gives students the opportunity to answer questions without the pressure of the whole class knowing whose response they’re reading.
All departments at the university have their differences in showing student successes in the classroom. Michele Harvey, an associate professor in the automotive management program, has seen that students succeed in the classroom when they use their previous experiences and knowledge and apply it to class projects.
“Students tend to succeed most when they can apply their existing technical expertise to management problems,” Harvey said. “For example, someone with service experience can easily relate to discussions about shop efficiency or warranty processes and then connect those to budgeting, scheduling or marketing strategies. Many also see rapid growth in communication skills, writing proposals, delivering presentations and leading meetings because we integrate those skills into nearly every project.”
As capable as students are in finding success in the classroom, there will always be struggles along the way. Harvey has noticed that among the struggles students experience in the classroom is transitioning to the real world, as college is often a drastically different environment from what students are used to at home.
“The main struggle for some students is adjusting to that bigger-picture thinking,” Harvey said. “Moving from ‘doer’ to ‘decision-maker’ means learning to step back from the hands-on work and focus on planning, delegating and evaluating results. For others, the financial side, understanding pro forma statements, cost analysis and inventory management, pushes them outside their comfort zone.”
Harvey also stated that the same areas involving challenges are the ones students end up mastering by graduation, since those areas include skills that open doors across the industry.
Regardless of class subject, each professor has their own unique method to ensure that their students will do well in their classroom academically, as well as feel comfortable receiving the help that they need.
Tina Arduini, an associate professor in the school of English, literature and world languages, teaches English classes at the 100, 200 and 400 levels. She has a specific method that she has found to be beneficial in helping students start the academic year strong.
“My best method for getting students to invest in their education and take an active role in their learning is to offer them agency,” Arduini said. “Listening to their suggestions and creating space for them to modify course content and assignments.”
Students should always go to their professors if they have questions about anything classroom or college-related. No student should have to suffer from a slow academic start when there is such an abundance of resources surrounding them.