Successful Retention in ESL & EL/Civics

ClassesTechnical College System of Georgia

Office of Adult EducationAugust 14, 20132:00 – 3:30 pm

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Technical Housekeeping If you haven’t already, call 1-866-590-5055 and enter

access code 8019870#

Please mute your phone line to minimize background

noise.

You can access presentation materials on the GALIS

“Help” page under Technically Speaking:https://galis.tcsg.edu/OAL_PORTAL/Docs/Documentation.aspx

Technical Difficulties? Email kbryant@tcsg.edu.

Stay tuned at the end for a link to an online

evaluation form and information about the next ESL

Technically Speaking.

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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

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Introduction

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

E-mail schedules, special messages, and class/school reminders to students

Track ESL program/teacher productivity to assess and guide program improvement

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Here today…Gone tomorrow, if we can’t help them…

Strategies for Motivating and Retaining Adult Learners

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We All Know the Issues

Why don’t our students stick around longer?

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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 W

orth the Stay

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Investment for Student Success: Classroom Set-up

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Investment for Student Success: Classroom Set-up

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Investment for Student Success: Classroom Set-up

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Create Common Experience : Field Trip & Guest Speaker

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Make Learning Relevant and Engaging: Project-based Learning Activities

Build Confidence

Share with Others

Build Language

Project-based

Learning Activities

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Make Learning Relevant and Engaging: Project-based Learning Activities

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Build Professional and Personal Relationships

Celebrate Events of

Life

Send Cards

Personal Calls

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Sense of Belonging and Community: Foooood!

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THE END

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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

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Successful student retention depends upon the commitment of students and programBegins with recruitmentContinues with orientationIs reinforced with program qualityResults in higher completion rates

Mutual Accountability

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A Team Effort Starts with your paid staff Can be bolstered by volunteers

Volunteers supplement and enhance our efforts – they don’t replace them

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR

LEAD INSTRUCTORS

Instructors Instructors

Instructor’s Aide Instructor’s Aide

Administrative Support Administrative Support

Counselor Counselor Support

Advisory Committee

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Perspectives On Volunteers

Community stakeholders Volunteer RESOURCES Maximize

Program capacityQuality and length of instructionRetention $

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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!

Bilocation

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Possible Answers Instructional support

Working with select groups under supervision Data entry Hospitality Phone calls and follow-ups Marketing ???????

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VolunteerFormula For Increased RetentionBuy-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

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Questions?

Comments?

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Contact Information

Felicia PhelpsGrant Program Support CoordinatorOffice of Adult Educationfphelps@tcsg.edu(478)329-4720

Yumi KimELP CoordinatorCentral Georgia Technical Collegeykim@centralgatech.edu (478)757-6671

Christopher B. DurdenAdult Education/ESL Lead InstructorGwinnett Technical Collegecdurden@gwinnetttech.edu(678)226-6352

Loretta SieffermanManager, Adult Education ServicesCatholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Atlantalsiefferman@catholiccharitiesatlanta.org(770)790-3104

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Thank you for your participation!

Please complete an evaluation of this session at

http://surveymonkey.com/s/TechnicallySpeakingRetention

Next ESL & EL/Civics Technically Speaking:

ESL Educational Gain: Best Practices

November 20, 2013 2:00-3:30 pm