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Instruction

Evidence-based Strategies - Examples, Research and Tools


Strategy h: Promote the development of students’ self-efficacy (i.e. beliefs about their ability to be successful students) by providing mastery experiences early on, inviting graduates or peers to share their strategies for success, etc.

Examples

Improving Student Persistence at the Genesis Center
Nancy Fritz and Barbara Piccirilli Alsabek
In this Providence-based program, two teachers tested the impact of implementing three related persistence strategies: democratizing the classroom, adjusting the curriculum to respond to student interests, and helping learners develop metacognitive awareness of their learning and progress. The combined strategies had strong effect on both attendance and learning gains.

Teaching Adults to Read with Reading Apprenticeship
Michele Benjamin Lesmeister
Reported to improve student persistence and reading ability, this model involves mentoring students in discipline-based reading, showing them how to be active, strategic, and reflective readers.

We are the Three Musketeers
Hyacinth Bewry
This student author presents an account of her struggle to finish a Certified Nursing Assistant program and the fellow students who helped her through.

Embracing an Academic Identity
Through this video, an instructor addresses ways of working with students to identify talents and translate them into a successful education.

Building Student Confidence
This video provides breakthrough strategies for engaging first generation college students in the classroom while simultaneously, helping them build their confidence so that they may participate more actively in class discussions.

Research

Is Goal Setting Primary to Every Student?
Susan Bubp
In this practitioner research study, groups of current and former students were asked about what makes them stay and succeed in their studies. Findings show that supportive relationships with teachers and peers was the overriding factor and that up-front goal-setting is not effective for all students.

Self-efficacy
Silja Kallenbach
This two-pager defines self-efficacy and outlines the four key strategies for supporting its development.

Tools

Life Success for Students with Learning Disabilities: A Teacher Guide
The Frostig Center
This resource is based on a 20-year longitudinal research project to identify the factors that lead to positive life outcomes in persons with learning disabilities. A qualitative analysis revealed a set of “success attributes” that include: self-awareness/self-acceptance of the learning disability, proactivity, perseverance, emotional stability, appropriate goal setting, and the presence and use of effective social support systems. Though addressed to parents, the site includes activities that can be adapted to support these attributes in adults.

Study Habits Interview
Susan Ritter
A simple peer interview tool to raise ESOL student awareness of good study habits.