Teaching Tips – Supporting Student Success Through High Expectations

Instructors can play a critical role in fostering student success by encouraging students, believing in the abilities of all students and setting high expectations. When holding students to high expectations, it is important to clearly outline and communicate expectations with students to ensure their understanding of what is expected of them. Consider these tips for setting and maintaining high expectations to support student success in your courses.

Learning Goals

By outlining clear learning goals and connecting them to specific criteria for success, you can prepare students for the expectations in your course. As a supplement, consider asking students to develop their own learning goals (in addition to those you identify) to foster student motivation, independence and engagement in the learning process.

Content

To meet the needs of diverse learners in your classroom, use various activities when delivering content that allow students to learn information in multiple ways. When possible, embed opportunities for student choice and build upon students’ interests. Such strategies can help increase student motivation and highlight students’ true abilities and strengths.

Feedback

Feedback plays an important role in student success. By providing detailed and individualized feedback related to your learning goals, you support students’ ability to better understand the content and make improvements to their work. Look for patterns of misunderstanding, guide students in discussion and correct incorrect answers to ensure the entire class has an accurate understanding of the course material.

Learning Environment

Consider ways to create a comfortable environment where students feel encouraged to participate and learn. Ask open-ended question to allow students to think critically and contribute their own ideas. Ensure all students are given the opportunity to succeed by creating an equitable environment and making accommodations when necessary.

Barkley, E. F., & Major, C. H. (2022). Engaged teaching: A handbook for college faculty. The K. Patricia Cross Academy.