Student success in the classroom can be accredited to many things. For example: great note taking or efficient study habits. However, there are just as many reasons accredited with poor student performance. One such reason is poor communication between student and teachers outside the classroom. In many ways, it can be difficult for teachers to communicate important course information after a class meeting has ended.
Early Alert Initiative, a fairly new program to COS, offers aid to this dilemma, presenting teachers with a simplified method of communication with students. This program was initially aimed to provide important course information to students struggling in a class. Using Banner Web, teachers can post messages easily received by students. Messages could consist of many things, from current grades and upcoming tests to comments aimed at simply motivating a struggling student. Teachers have also used EAI to compliment students that are succeeding in a particular course.
Now entering its third semester of use, EAI is quickly gaining popularity with students and faculty alike. It saw a 36 percent rise in faculty participation and more than doubled the number of students who received an early alert in its second semester of use. This program also boasts an impressive success rate. In the last semester, over a quarter of students who received early alerts improved their final grade by at least one letter.
William Garcia, EOPS/CARE Director at COS, started this program to better teacher-student communication. Since the start of the EAI, many programs at COS like MESA and COS Athletics have adopted it. At this time, EAI is exclusive to COS, but Garcia remains optimistic that his program will continue to grow and help students all over with their classes.
Be the first to comment on this article!