Technical College System of Georgia Office of Adult Education August 14, :00 – 3:30 pm

Technical Housekeeping  If you haven’t already, call and enter access code #  Please mute your phone line to minimize background noise.  You can access presentation materials on the GALIS “Help” page under Technically Speaking:  Technical Difficulties?  Stay tuned at the end for a link to an online evaluation form and information about the next ESL Technically Speaking. 2

Teleconference Overview  Introduction – Felicia Phelps, GPS Coordinator  Presenters Christopher Durden, Adult Education/ESL Lead Instructor, Gwinnett Technical College Yumi Kim, ELP Coordinator, Central Georgia Technical College Loretta Siefferman, Manager, Adult Education Services, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Atlanta  Questions of Presenters  Sharing from Others  Closing Remarks – Felicia Phelps, GPS Coordinator 3

Introduction  Retention = Huge Challenge  Effective Classroom Structure  Strategic Instructional Strategies  Instructional Service Facilitation  Rewarding Measurable Outcomes 4

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Student Retention Incentives  Increase student contact hours  Revise attendance policy  Provide learner-centered instruction  Create an ABE class for exiting ESL students  Recognize students who make gains  Increase duration of classes 6

Retention through Technological Innovations  Offer open computer labs for students to increase contact hours and reinforce classroom instruction  Offer an extended open computer lab for student skills reinforcement 7

Retention through Management  Control classes through managed enrollment  Place students in classes by EFL  Provide more individualized instructional opportunities for lower performing students  Monitor student attendance for post-testing  Evaluate progress and retention w/ GALIS 8

Retention through Instructor Training  Introduce evidence-based teaching strategies through training opportunities  Recognize instructors for meeting educational gain goals  Recognize support staff for exemplary service 9

Ongoing Retention Initiatives  Offer ESL in multiple locations  Brand organization at off-campus sites  Share brochures and gift passes to students for free classes  Offer free citizenship labs to upper levels  Give T-shirts to students who make a gains 10

Ongoing Retention Initiatives  Use student syllabi based on SEP to encourage class attendance, participation  Reach out to no-show, dropped, and at-risk students on a monthly basis  schedules, special messages, and class/school reminders to students  Track ESL program/teacher productivity to assess and guide program improvement 11

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Here today… Gone tomorrow, if we can’t help them… Strategies for Motivating and Retaining Adult Learners 13

We All Know the Issues Why don’t our students stick around longer? 14

Create a Positive Classroom Environment Create Common Experience Make learning relevant and engaging Build Personal and Professional Relationship Sense of belonging and community Making It Worth the Stay 15

Investment for Student Success: Classroom Set-up 16

Investment for Student Success: Classroom Set-up 17

Investment for Student Success: Classroom Set-up 18

Create Common Experience : Field Trip & Guest Speaker 19

Make Learning Relevant and Engaging: Project-based Learning Activities Build C onfidence Share with Others Build Language Project- based Learning Activities 20

Make Learning Relevant and Engaging: Project-based Learning Activities 21

Build Professional and Personal Relationships Celebrate Events of Life Send Cards Personal Calls 22

Sense of Belonging and Community: Foooood! 23

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THE END 25

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Keep them coming back for more! The Basics For Success  Mutual Accountability  Team Effort  Division of Labor  Selection, Training, Support  Recognition 27

 Successful student retention depends upon the commitment of students and program Begins with recruitment Continues with orientation Is reinforced with program quality Results in higher completion rates Mutual Accountability 28

A Team Effort  Starts with your paid staff volunteers  Can be bolstered by volunteers  Volunteers supplement and enhance our efforts – they don’t replace them PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR LEAD INSTRUCTORS InstructorsInstructors Instructor’s Aide Administrative Support Counselor Counselor Support Advisory Committee 29

Perspectives On Volunteers  Community stakeholders  Volunteer RESOURCES  Maximize Program capacity Quality and length of instruction Retention $ 30

Questions To Ask  Where do I need help?  Where does my staff say they could use assistance?  How can I help? is not the solution! 31

Possible Answers  Instructional support Working with select groups under supervision  Data entry  Hospitality  Phone calls and follow-ups  Marketing  ??????? 32

Volunteer Formula For Increased Retention Buy-in from staff +Application process +Orientation to the big picture +Task-specific expectations and training +Ongoing training and support +Inclusion in decision-making process +Recognition = SUCCESS 33

Questions? Comments? 34

Contact Information Felicia Phelps Grant Program Support Coordinator Office of Adult Education (478) Yumi Kim ELP Coordinator Central Georgia Technical College (478) Christopher B. Durden Adult Education/ESL Lead Instructor Gwinnett Technical College (678) Loretta Siefferman Manager, Adult Education Services Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Atlanta (770)

Thank you for your participation! Please complete an evaluation of this session at Next ESL & EL/Civics Technically Speaking: ESL Educational Gain: Best Practices November 20, :00-3:30 pm 36