Research & Application
Student Persistence
What is Student Persistence?
Student persistence, when discussed within the parameters of adult ESOL, does not refer to retention, but instead refers to a student’s ability and willingness to continue with self-study when issues related to health, family, and work prevent the student from attending class. The “persistent” student is one who continues to manage his/her language learning by participating in self-study during times when he/she must “stop out,” and then returns to the classroom when able to do so.
As ESOL educators who work with adults, we can best serve our students if we can help them identify the issues that interfere with their ability to attend class, if we can provide them with strategies which help them stay in school in long as possible, if we can provide them with access to materials which assist them in their self-study, and if we can offer them the incentives they need to return to the classroom as soon as they are able.
A new Adult Learner Persistence website is now up at http://www.nelrc.org/persist.
The site shares the resources collected for and generated by the New England Learner Persistence (NELP) Project. For each of six program areas (Program Design and Management, Intake and Orientation, Instruction, Counseling and Support, Student Involvement, and Seeing Progress), the site offers an inventory of promising practices that link to related research, program models, and tools. You can find, for example, research on the impact of shifting from open to managed enrollment, examples of how programs have built support networks to foster new students’ sense of belonging, or tools for helping adults recognize and document their learning progress. The site also highlights six Drivers of Persistence identified in the NELP Project, links to program self-assessment tools, and invites the field to contribute new examples of strategies that have impacted adult learner persistence. |
Tip #1: Know About the Current Research on Student Persistence
Stopping Out, Not Dropping Out
http://www.ncsall.net/?id=771&pid=417
Helping Adults Persist: Four Supports
http://www.ncsall.net/?id=771&pid=332
Research Materials on Adult Student Persistence
http://www.ncsall.net/?id=771&pid=791
30 minute streamed video, a Persistence panel discussion with researcher, John Comings, and practitioners Kathy Endaya and Ernest Best, moderated by David J. Rosen
http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/webcasts/persistence/persistence_cast.html
Tip #2: Know about study circle outcomes from around the country.
California Study Circle Outcomes:
Suggestions for supporting learner persistence
http://www.calpro-online.org/announce/Collected_Strategies.pdf
Examples of actions programs have taken based on study circles
http://www.calpro-online.org/announce/ActionsProgramsTook.pdf
Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning:
Suggestions for Improving Learner Persistence: A List Generated by Texas Adult Education Program Directors, Coordinators, & Supervisors who Participated in the NCSALL/TCALL Study Circle Meetings on Learner Persistence:
http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/docs/lrnrpersist05.htm
Colorado Adult Education Professional Association
Current Research in Study Circle (October 2005): http://www.caepa.org/downloads/newsletter%2005%20Oct.pdf
3. Conduct a Study Circle in your own backyard.
NCSALL Study Circle Guide: Learner Persistence in Adult Basic Education
The study circle is designed for adult education practitioners who desire to explore specific topics, brainstorm ideas, and develop strategies in a small group setting. This guide includes everything needed to initiate a study circle on learner persistence including handouts, readings, discussion questions, etc.
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/~ncsall/teach/lp.pdf
NCSALL Seminar Guide: Helping Adults Persist.
This 3 ½-hour seminar introduces adult education practitioners to the research on adult student persistence, focusing on the positive and negative forces that help and hinder persistence.
http://www.ncsall.net/fileadmin/resources/teach/persistence_role.pdf
NCSALL Seminar Guide: Supports and Barriers to Persistence.
In this 4-hour seminar, participants explore reasons why students leave programs and ways to support students, including sponsorship.
http://www.ncsall.net/fileadmin/resources/teach/supports_role.pdf
NCSALL Seminar Guide: Self-efficacy in Persistence.
This 3 ½-hour seminar introduces adult education practitioners to the four supports to adult student persistence identified in the research study.
http://www.ncsall.net/fileadmin/resources/teach/self-efficacy_role.pdf
NYS TESOL Special Interest Groups (SIG)