Posted 12:39 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, 2024
A Missed Opportunity
By Marjorie Bazluki, Senior Instructional Designer in CATL
One of the best, most underutilized resources is student hours (formerly office hours). They are one of the most recognized and effective ways for students to receive academic support. They provide dedicated time each week for students to ask questions and engage in discussions about course content with their instructors. However, many instructors often dread this time, finding themselves alone in their offices, waiting for students to seek help.
So, why don’t students attend student hours? One major reason is that students may not fully understand the purpose and potential benefits. If students have a limited view of what these hours offer, we may need to adjust how we present them. One approach is to frame this time as a pedagogical tool for reinforcing concepts, answering questions, and building relationships, as well as an opportunity to listen to other people’s questions (if group hours) and learn more about the content that way.
In one of your first classes, explain the purpose of student hours. Emphasize the importance of going and getting the help, advising, and other critical information they might need (if they are unsure or confused about something) from an experienced mentor who can guide them in the right direction. Make it clear that you want all your students to succeed and use this opportunity to develop a rapport with them. By outlining how this time can be used, you can create a more inviting atmosphere that encourages student participation.
Another approach is to reconsider how student hours are offered. To highlight their value, you can experiment with different formats. For example, student hours can be offered as a mini lesson that reviews new concepts offering clarification or gives strong homework hints to a much smaller group of students. Student hours can also be a time where you share information about upcoming assignments, course material, or even your latest research.
By reshaping the way we present and conduct student hours, we can make this time more accessible and beneficial to students. Clear communication about their purpose, along with thoughtful adjustments in how they are structured, can foster greater student engagement and academic success. Ultimately, student hours should be viewed not just as an extra resource, but as an integral part of the learning experience—one that helps build stronger connections between instructors and students while reinforcing the material covered in class.