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Student Success, Retention & Engagement | On Course

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Active Listening

Whenever students make a report, I combine that with an opportunity to practice Active Listening.  Before the reports, we go over the principles of Active Listening described in Chapter 5 of the On Course text: 1. Listen to understand. 2. Clear your mind and remain silent. 3. Ask the person to expand or clarify. 4. Reflect the other person’s thoughts and feelings.

We put chairs in a circle. I vacate my chair, and label my chair the “hot seat.” The first speaker sits in the hot seat, and the person to her left is the “facilitator.”  The speaker takes as much time as she needs to report to the class.  Then the facilitator uses the skills of active listening to draw the speaker out.  When they run out of steam, anyone in the class is welcome to join the conversation, asking questions and reflecting thoughts and feelings.  This process is repeated for each student, so all have the opportunity to be a speaker and a facilitator.

Here are some of the results I have observed:

1. A lively conversation ensues.  2. We learn more about the speaker, who often learns more about herself as well. 3. The speaker has the refreshing experience of being actively listened to, possibly for the first time in her life. 4. The students refine their active listening skills. They move from trying to “fix” their classmates to wanting to understand them.  5. The students are empowered to express themselves.  Occasionally I will make an empowering observation, but for the most part, they run the class themselves. 6.The class bonds as we learn more about ourselves and each other.  7. We all have a lot of fun!

–Joanna Brandt, Faculty, College Success Seminar, Baltimore City Community College, MD

Institutional Studies

Read compelling data from twenty seven colleges and universities using the On Course textbook.

 

These studies demonstrate increases in retention, success and persistence rates as high as 27%.

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We have 12 engaging campus workshops and keynote offerings addressing a wide range of student success topics.

 

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On Campus Workshops

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Workshop Testimonials

I’m a better instructor because of On Course.
Mary Lou Ng
Faculty, Mathematics
N. Alberta Institute of Tech., Alberta, CN
The On Course Workshop was the most productive learning experience I have had in years.
Kelli Rush
Faculty, Business
Campbellsville University, KY
On a scale of 1-10, I rate the overall value I received from the workshop as a 15.
Deborah Rayner
Faculty, Computer Science
Harford Community College, MD
In my 31 years of teaching this was the best and most critically needed of any workshop I have ever attended.
Susan Duncan
Faculty, Humanities
El Camino College, CA
I have attended a lot of workshops and conferences–On Course is by far the best!
Debbie Alford,
Director, Title III and Success Center
Southwestern Illinois College, IL
I am going back to campus more empowered and energized.
Tyrone Davidson
Director, Undergraduate Advising
Missouri U of Science & Technology, MO
This was an awesome experience for an educator who was burning out!
Shay Jones
Faculty, Foundational Studies
Harrisburg Area Community College, PA
You have created a workshop that, in my 25 years of professional development, is by far the best experience I’ve ever had.
Jennifer Meehl
Academic Advisor
Landmark College, VT
My first day back I plunged into using On Course materials and methods with my students, and they LOVED it!! And I LOVED it! Thank you so much on behalf of myself and all of my present and future students!
Stephanie Schwartz
Faculty, Humanities
El Camino College, CA
Our college needs to offer this workshop for all faculty, full and part-time.
John McGill
Associate Dean, Biology
York Technical College, SC

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