What Everyone Ought to Know About Professor Flexibility, Philosophy, and Student Completion
This webinar provides an overview of a two-year data project that collaborated with the college’s institutional research department to determine if changes in teaching style and course materials increased overall student completion as well as completion of historically underrepresented groups. Course completion rates were collected over a five-semester period for introductory and 200-level courses in psychology and sociology. Data were disaggregated by age, sex, race, socio-economic status, and full- and part-time status. Data also included the completion rates of students who participated in TRIO services and/or took remedial coursework. The data show that changes in teaching style and course materials result in increased completion rates overall and among historically underrepresented groups. The largest completion growth is among Black men and Black women age 25 and older.
Learning Outcomes:
- Participants learn how collaboration with the institutional research department can enhance and guide teaching strategies and interventions.
- Participants learn how being flexible, supportive, and trusting with students can result in higher completion rates.
- Participants learn how to develop courses based on the lowest prerequisite course requirement without reducing course and assignment rigor.
Jonathon Wade, Ph.D. is a first-generation college student and associate professor at Danville Area Community College in the liberal arts division. He teaches courses in sociology and psychology and has more than 12 years of experience as a mental health professional, community advocate, corporate trainer, and family consultant. Dr. Wade is a student-centered professor, who places student relationships and engagement at the core of his teaching philosophy.
Please Note:
Only those attending the LIVE webinar will receive a certificate of attendance. Thank you!
Thank you Professor Wade for this presentation. I have struggled with the same issues, and I am glad to learn of your strategies. The question becomes this: do I want to be right, or do I want to be effective? These tools will help me to become more of the latter.
You are welcome! Feel free to send me any tips you have or strategies you have used. Thanks