UnderstandingStudentInvolvement

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Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:2124] Student involvement
From: jataylor_at_utk.edu

Hi all, The other night, I asked about some of the challenges of learner leadership, but I realized today that I'm not even sure what student involvement in programs really means. In the past, I've heard some say that ' our students don't have time for this - they want to get their GED or learn English'. It seems that student involvement may be perceived as something extra. Is this necessarily true?

What _is_ student involvement? I've read several great examples of activities and projects, but I'm wondering if we've covered everything, or if we've barely scratched the surface...

Thanks,
jackie

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:2128] Re: Student involvement
From: <kraft_at_ypsilibrary.org>

Hi all, Student involvement can come in many forms. For me it started after being asked to help out with the learner run news letter our agency puts out. We then shot a sensitivity video and started to meet once a month to talk about what we could do to make the program even better. This whole process let me see just how important it was to get involved. That's why VALUE is so exciting. I know the first time I went to one of there conferences I was questioning weather I should try to go on staff at Washtenaw Literacy. My tutor had helped me a ton and college had been going well but I still had loads of self doubt. The excitement of seeing all these other people stepping out to help made me feel that I needed to do this. I've spent the last five years as a Program Coordinator here and hope to do it the rest of my life. Blair Kraft
Program Coordinator
Washtenaw Literacy

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:2161] Re: Student involvement
From: <etorrez@ci.santa-clara.ca.us>

You are so right I am glad that you are doing to well in the program

Emma Torrez
Learner Advocate
Read Santa Clara
(408) 615-2959
etorrez@ci.santa-clara.ca.us

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:2130] Re: Student involvement
From: Angela Childers

Jackie,

It seems the second we define student involvement is the instant that students lose interest. Ultimately student involvement is when students have a voice. But students need to form that voice. Student’s need to know their skills or desired skills and have the opportunities open in their program to use those skills. Teachers need to be around at some point to make sure the support it there and to keep it something the students want. Also I found out real quick that students only give time to something that they see interesting to them. Students like to make us happy but bottom line time students give to student involvement equals interest they have in what they are involvement in. In other words the students group create the vision of the project or position. (It seems the project can't be just one students vision it has to be the teams vision. The student team has to know how to appeal to the gate keeps as well.)

There also seems to be a Gap between teachers and students that student involvement fills. The student becomes more like a partner than a student. I am really unsure how to explain it so if anyone else has a thought about this help me out.


Angela Childers
Literacy Council of Tyler
Angela_r25@yahoo.com

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:2131] Re: Student involvement
From: djrosen_at_comcast.net

Hello Jackie,

We've just scratched the surface on what learner involvement means.

But first: some learners only want to focus on their learning goal, for example improving reading, speaking English, or getting a GED. Some of those learners, after they are in a program for awhile, develop other goals and do want to be involved in other ways; some don't. Some come to the program and need to be involved in other ways right from the beginning; they need to have other purposeful roles in the program in order to accomplish their goals as a learner -- they need to be a contributing member of the community where they are giving as well as receiving.

So, here's the beginning of a list of ways that adult learners can be involved, in addition to being learners:

  • recruiter
  • counselor
  • board (or advisory board) member
  • hiring committee member
  • elected representative to the student council, or student advisory

group

  • member of the curriculum development or program evaluation committee
  • facilitator of a student support group
  • actor, director, or set or props designer in a program's

improvisational theater group, or other adult literacy-related theater or video production

  • program vehicle driver
  • writer and/or editor of program newspaper, or literary journal
  • program photographer, or videographer
  • tutor
  • program child care worker
  • program fund raiser
  • adult literacy advocate/public speaker
  • participant as a presenter or trainer in staff development
  • special project participant (some of examples of these projects

include: Action Health Team, Homebuying Awareness Web site project, Buying a Computer Web site Project, Rural Transportation Project, and Environmental Clean-up)

What other roles should be added to this list?

David J. Rosen
djrosen_at_comcast.net

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:2132] Re: Student involvement
From: djrosen_at_comcast.net

Hello Angela,

I think "partner" is the right word and that you have explained it well.

Here's an example of that partnership. A volunteer tutoring program in Philadelphia, several years ago, changed its training design. Instead of training volunteers and then matching each one to a student, they matched the student and volunteer first and sent both of them to training together as a team.. The student then had many of the same tools as the tutor, and most important, this communicated right from the start, that this was a partnership of two adults, not one person poring knowledge into another, but two people in partnership to help one learn to read better, and to help the other learn how best to help...and maybe learn some other things, too.

David J. Rosen
djrosen_at_comcast.net

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:2133] Re: Student involvement
From: <angellove2001us_at_yahoo.com>

Hello Jackie,

I would like to offer a student prospective on your question. To me student involvement is involving the students to make them feel important and to give them a voice. It puts responsibility on the student in order to prepare them for life. It also allows other student to have student leader examples.

Students are busy and want to get their GED or learn English however, if students want something to happen the will find the time. So find out what motivates your students and that is what they will help with. Teachers have to show that they are interested in the student’s interest.

Far as students being involved in professional development I think it is a good idea. Personal I would not want to be involved unless I was confident in the subject matter and had support from a teacher. In other words I would want to be taught the skills needed to present and able to ask lots of questions.

If someone else would like a student prospective on something please ask.


D'Andrea Minnitt
Literacy Council of Tyler
Student
Angellove2001us@yahoo.com

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:2138] Re: Student involvement
From: <khinson@future-gate.com>

One of my students offered this suggestion as to what "student involvment" meant to them.

"For me, it's coming back and being able to tell the other students still in the GED class or even the ABE classes to not give up...to keep at it and to not focus so much on "test" but to truly learn and think. I started in curriculum classes this spring and because I really did focus on the end result of "getting my GED" and I didn't listen as much as I could have, I didn't hear my teacher when she told me to think my way through something, to be an active participant in my learning. Focusing on the end result is not what students need - they need to set goals, to see them as steps from one place to another in their lives. They need to hear former students tell them like it is - and to not sugar coat it. College is hard. Finding a job with just a GED is hard. They can't focus on just one thing, they have to keep the big picture in mind. That's what students have to offer other students. Sure, we can come back to help each other out, we can come back to be study partners - but all the work in the world isn't enough if you forget it between the time you get your GED in the mail and register for your first college classes. I do think instructors and other people in programs could do a better job of trul ylistening to students...respect us and our differneces but when it comes right down to it, I'd rather deal with the students and not all the big wigs. If I can help, I want to be able to help...if not, I want to at least be an example of what you can become if you work hard and don't give up. I am happy to be able to go back and tell people in my old class to listen to Ms Hinson when she tells us to think because she's right. We have to be able to think for ourselves. No one else is going to do it for us."

As you can see, this student definitely has her opinions. Within my class I"ve always given my students, past and present a place to speak and share. It's about as far as I can go with student involvment. I do find myself always listening to my students - taking mental notes on what they say they like, dislike, would change, what isn't working etc, so that when I go to staff meetings etc, I can at least try to present their viewpoints even if they can't do it themselves. They may not have direct involvment but they do at least have some indirect impact on things around them.

Katrina Hinson

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:2147] Re: Student involvement
From: <benikapierce_at_yahoo.com>

--- jataylor <jataylor@utk.edu> wrote:
Hi all, The other night, I asked about some of the challenges of learner leadership, but I realized today that I'm not even sure what student involvement in programs really means. In the past, I've heard some say that ' our students don't have time for this - they want to get their GED or learn English'. It seems that student involvement may be perceived as something extra. Is this necessarily true?

What _is_ student involvement? I've read several great examples of activities and projects, but I'm wondering if we've covered everything, or if we've barely scratched the surface...


>Hello Jackie! I would like to tell you that it is so true that students feel like that. Because I am experiencing this with some of the students at my school. You want leadership from students because it is very important for involvement and it brings a good reflection upon the adult education program itself. I can relate to the question you asked. The students feel like once they have accomplished the goal, there becomes no need for further involvement. I want to give back to the adult education program instead of eliminating the M.O.M.S. support group. Their were a lot of encounterments with students that wanted things to be done, but their was no consistency in the participation. I would like to say involvement in students is a good thing and it ends up with a good result. Also, the adult education has the benefit from the student involvement. Thanks, Benika

Subject: [NIFL-AALPD:2135] student involvement at the WAITT House
From: jataylor_at_utk.edu

Hi All,
This question is for our guest, Stephen Hanley, as well as for others from the WAITT House who may be subscribed. Stephen, I'm interested in understanding more about what student involvement is and what it means to adult learners, practitioners, and programs. I understand the WAITT House involves students in the program at every level. I have a couple of questions for you:

Would you please describe to us some of the different levels of student involvement in your program? What does student involvement look like at these various levels?

As a program director, what advice do you have for others in supporting student involvement?

Thanks so much,
Jackie

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