2010 CCCSE Workshop Students Speak – We Listen June 1, 2010.

2010 CCCSE Workshop

Students Speak – We Listen

June 1, 2010

Center for Community College Student Engagement

Arleen ArnspargerProject Manager, Initiative on Student [email protected]

Sandra ShannonProject Coordinator, Initiative on Student [email protected]

Patri O’GanAdministrative Associate, Initiative on Student [email protected]

Center for Community College Student EngagementCommunity College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE)Community College Faculty Survey of Student Engagement (CCFSSE)Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE)

Community College Leadership ProgramThe University of Texas at Austin

Agenda Introduction – Why focus groups?

Creating Stories -- How to use focus group findings – qualitative information -- alongside your institutional data – quantitative information

Designing, organizing, and conducting focus groups

Group work

Q&A throughout the session

What do you want to take away from this session?


Why focus groups?

Digging beneath the numbers… moving from “what” to “why”

Bringing data alive through student voices

The power of stories



Quantitative

CCSSE

CCFSSE

SENSE

Qualitative

Initiative on Student Success / Starting Right



CCCSE & Starting Right Initiative

Quantitative + Qualitative Information

2002 - 2006: CCSSE + Focus groups

2007 - 2011: SENSE + Focus Groups

• 2009-10: Three colleges and two high schools in Houston area – longitudinal study

• 2010-2011: Three colleges in different locations around the country – longitudinal study

4…the least number of times students in focus groups at one college we visited returned to the college to complete the registration process.



My first day…

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Early Connections…

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Students don’t know what they don’t know…

but we think they should…and we behave as though they do!


The students in our focus groups who reported the best experience registering at their college had something in common.

What was it?



Discussion Qs

• Who? • Which students do you want to hear from?

• What? • What do you want to learn from them?

• Why? • What data lead you to ask those

questions?

CCSSE Benchmarks for Effective Educational Practice

Active and Collaborative Learning

Student Effort

Academic Challenge

Student-Faculty Interaction

Support for Learners


SENSE Benchmarks of Effective Practice with Entering Students…• Early Connections

• High Expectations and Aspirations

• Clear Academic Plan and Pathway

• Effective Track to College Readiness

• Engaged Learning

• Academic and Social Support Network


Active & Collaborative LearningWhat percentage of students said they

asked questions in class or contributed to class discussions?

• Often or Very Often

What percentage of students said they worked with other students on a project or assignment often or very often?

• During class?• Outside of class?


Active & Collaborative LearningWhat percentage of students said they

asked questions in class or contributed to class discussions?

• Often or Very Often – 65%

What percentage of students said they worked with other students on a project or assignment often or very often?

• During class? – 46%• Outside of class? – 22%



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Give Me a Reason to Come to Class…

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Academic Challenge: What % of students said they often or very often worked harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor’s expectations?

Slightly less than half!

Center for Community College Student EngagementI

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Support for Learners:

What do students say is the most important college service?

Academic Advising & Planning

What entering students are telling us:During their first 3 weeks…

• Almost 30% didn’t know they could get academic advising…

47% didn’t use it.



Please advise me…

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More than 70% of entering students say no college staff member talked with them about outside commitments to help them figure out how many classes to take.


Too Many Hours…

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Have you asked for help?57% say Once or Never

Gone to a tutor? 84% say Never

Gone to a math, writing or other skill lab? 66% say Never

Center for Community College Student EngagementI

I Need Help, But…

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Students don’t do optional!!


Focus Group Toolkit

http://www.ccsse.org/resources/toolkit


• Planning Focus Groups

• Recruiting Focus Group Participants

• Discussion Tools

• Analyzing/Reporting

Student Focus Group Toolkit can be adapted for faculty & staff


Planning Focus Groups • Selecting a Moderator and Note-taker • Coordinator Responsibilities • Coordinator Checklist

• Room Set-Up • Videotaping Guidelines • Consent Forms

Student Focus Group Toolkit


Recruiting Focus Group Participants • Selecting Participants

Your goal is: To gain as accurate a picture as possible of student experiences at the college. You want the good, the bad, and the ugly!

• Invitations & Maintaining Contact



Discussion Tools• Moderator Do’s and Don’ts

• Moderator’s Guide

• Student Profile Sheet

• Response Sheets



Focus Group Toolkit – Gathering Quantitative Data Along with Qualitative Information

Student Profile Form – Use to gather basic information about your participants

Additional response forms can be used to complement discussion findings. Examples:• Non-Academic Responsibilities• Finances • Technology Use• First Experiences


Focus Group Toolkit - Selecting a Moderator

• A time to listen, not to talk.

• Choose your facilitator wisely.

• Objective

• Not known to participants

• Not particularly knowledgeable about what the college is doing

• Able to listen without showing a reaction!


Group Activity - Create a Discussion Outline

• Select an OUTCOME. What do you want to learn from focus group participants?

• What 3 or 4 QUESTIONS could you ask to get to that outcome?

• Write OUTCOME and QUESTIONS on paper.

Select one person to share your group’s outline with session participants.

What Matters Most for Student Success?


What Works at the Front Door?


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What Works Before Classes Start?


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Students use the word “mandatory” and want us to use it when we know what they need.


What Works in Class?


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What do you want to learn more about? From whom? What challenges do you see in conducting focus groups at your college?

Next steps at your college?

Let’s Listen!


Please take a few moments to complete the session evaluation.

Thank you!


2010 CCCSE Workshop Students Speak – We Listen June 1, 2010.

Documents

Transcript of 2010 CCCSE Workshop Students Speak – We Listen June 1, 2010.