Successful Retention in ESL & EL/Civics Classes

1. Technical College System of Georgia Office of Adult Education August 14, 2013 2:00 – 3:30 pm Successful Retention in ESL & EL/Civics Classes

2. 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.

3. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

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

15. Making It Worth the Stay

16. Investment for Student Success: Classroom Set-up

17. Investment for Student Success: Classroom Set-up

18. Investment for Student Success: Classroom Set-up

19. Create Common Experience : Field Trip & Guest Speaker

20. Make Learning Relevant and Engaging: Project-based Learning Activities

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

22. Build Professional and Personal Relationships

23. Sense of Belonging and Community: Foooood!

25. THE END

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

28. Mutual Accountability • 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

29. A Team Effort • Starts with your paid staff • Can be bolstered by volunteers • Volunteers supplement and enhance our efforts – they don’t replace them

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

31. 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

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

33. 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

34. Questions? Comments?

35. Contact Information

36. 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