From Surviving to Thriving: Enhancing Confidence in Today’s Students
Posted by anne.grey
Presenters: Natalie Mix (Anatomy & Physiology Instructor, Rock Creek Campus) and Rebecca Hillary (Anatomy & Physiology Instructor, Rock Creek Campus).
Summary
In this presentation, Natalie Mix and Rebecca Hillary explore practical ways educators can help students build confidence, strengthen their sense of belonging, and develop more effective approaches to learning. Drawing from classroom experience and research, the presenters focus on two areas that can make a meaningful difference for students: creating learning environments where students feel valued and connected, and explicitly teaching the study skills needed to succeed. The session examines strategies such as early one-on-one meetings, student introductions, study groups, structured collaborative work, active learning, and connections to campus support services.
Participants also explore metacognition, or helping students think about how they learn, and consider ways to model effective study techniques, encourage reflection after assessments, normalize mistakes, and help students adjust strategies that are not working. Throughout the session, faculty share ideas that can be adapted across disciplines to help students move from feeling overwhelmed or uncertain toward becoming more confident, engaged, and independent learners.
Slides: From Surviving to Thriving
Presentation Outcomes
- Explain how a sense of belonging can influence student confidence, participation, persistence, and academic success.
- Identify practical strategies for building classroom community, including early instructor connections, student introductions, collaborative learning, and opportunities for students to recognize and contribute their strengths.
- Recognize the study strengths and challenges today’s students bring to the classroom and avoid assumptions about the learning skills students already possess.
- Use metacognitive strategies to help students evaluate how they study, recognize what is and is not working, and make purposeful adjustments.
- Model active study techniques such as drawing, teaching concepts to peers, comparing ideas, self-testing, collaborative studying, and spaced practice.
- Use reflection activities, exam wrappers, study plans, peer-created study aids, and campus resources to help students become more confident and independent learners.
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