Transforming the Classroom:Building Connections Through Real Talk

Lansing Community College Paul Hernandez, Author of the Pedagogy of Real Talk Anne Heutsche, Project Lead & Asst. Professor of HistoryKaren Hicks, Director of Assessment

Overview of the Faculty Institute

Intentional Design of the Faculty Institute –Start with the End in Mind

Outcomes of the Faculty Institute

73.10%

83.90%

71.85%

77.60%

92.41%

78.23%

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 80.00% 90.00% 100.00%

Persistence

Course Retention

Grades

2016-2017 Academic Year

Faculty Institute College Overall

Increased 6.38%

Increased 8.51%

Increased 4.5%

The Faculty Institute provides LCC faculty with training and an opportunity to learn and apply Real Talk pedagogical tools which facilitate student engagement by developing authentic and meaningful connections between students and faculty. These intentional relationships cultivates a sense of belonging in the classroom which directly correlates with student success in both course and college retention.

The Pedagogy of Real Talk

Real Talks are instructor led discussions focused on a series of broad engaging universal themes which motivate student oriented outcomes.

Alternative Lessons are creative and innovative approaches to introduce specific content materials that are relevant and engaging to students.

Faculty Institute – Context Matters "All human beings are

practicing historians," writes Gerda Lerner. "We live our lives; we tell our stories. It is as natural as breathing." It is as important as breathing, too. History shapes our self-definition and our relationship to community; it locates us in time and place and helps to give meaning to our lives.”

The Faculty Institute

Building Structure – Structure and Processes

Creation, Practice,

Implementation Reflection and Accountability

Intensive Training

Faculty Cohorts

Cultivating Intentional Relationships

What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.- Nelson Mandela

To live our lives based on the principles of a love ethic (showing care, respect, knowledge, integrity, and the will to cooperate), we have to be courageous. Learning how to face our fears is one way we embrace love. Those of us who have already chosen to embrace a love ethic, allowing it to govern and inform how we think and act, knowing that when we let our light shine, we draw to us and are drawn to other bearers of light. We are not alone. – bell hooks

Nurturing Voices – Enriching the Narrative

Results of the Faculty InstituteCohort 1 population & data

Student Perceptions Grades

Faculty Perceptions Course Retention

Persistence

Retention

Student (n=1,107)Classroom (n=43)Program (n=3)

College

Results of the Faculty InstituteStudent Perceptions

Course Evaluation Item Faculty

Institute College Overall

Comparison Encouraged student-faculty interaction outside of class

4.37 4.05

Displayed a personal interest in students and their learning

4.34 4.31

Results of the Faculty InstituteFaculty Perceptions

Questionnaire Item About Learning and Applying a New Pedagogy

Faculty Institute

Open to trying new and differentstrategies to improve student learning outcomes

100%

Meeting the diverse needs of students 85% Making personal connections between instructor, content, and student

69%

Attendance and participation prompted by a desire for professional development

78%

Receiving a personal invitation 56%

Outcomes of the Faculty Institute

73.10%

83.90%

71.85%

77.60%

92.41%

78.23%

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 80.00% 90.00% 100.00%

Persistence

Course Retention

Grades

2016-2017 Academic Year

Faculty Institute College Overall

Increased 6.38%

Increased 8.51%

Increased 4.5%

Results of the Faculty InstituteStudents feel more connected to the

teacher and to the College Faculty are more engaged with

students and with pedagogy Students achieve better grades,

complete the course, and return the following semester

Reflection: Pedagogy, People, Process

Faculty Institute – Materials Guerra-López, I. J. & Hicks, K. (2017). Partners for Performance: Strategically Aligning Learning and Development. Alexandria, VA: ATD Press.

Hernandez, P. (2015). The Pedagogy of Real Talk: Engaging, Teaching, and Connecting With Students at Risk. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

Hernandez, P. (2017). “Educator Training Reimagined Through Real Talk,” TEDxTraverseCity: https://youtube/IH9AruhN4X4

Creating Communities – Collaborators Committing to Equity and Inclusive Excellence

The 13 institutions selected:Anne Arundel Community College (MD)California State University – Northridge (CA)California State University – Sacramento (CA)Carthage College (WI)*Clark Atlanta University (GA)Dominican University (IL)Florida International University (FL)Governors State University (IL)Lansing Community College (MI)Morgan State University (MD)North Carolina A&T State University (NC)Pomona College (CA)Wilbur Wright College (IL)

Creating Communities – CollaboratorsFaculty Institute Participants and Staff

Cohort – Year 1 Jodi BreihartKevin Brown David GuardAnne Heutsche Bryan Machin Wade Merrill Dale MolerRandy PaapeDavid SiwikHong Trebesh

Cohort – Year 2Susan HankSusan HendersonJean HernandezCheryl McCormickPatricia PurolLarry Simpson

Staff Grace Howe Tami Matthews Margo Whalen

Thank You for Attending Our Session

Paul Hernandez –Hernandez.realtalk@gmail.comAnne Heutsche – heutsa@lcc.eduKaren Hicks - hicksk10@lcc.edu