{"id":240,"date":"2017-06-16T09:28:15","date_gmt":"2017-06-16T13:28:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/teachingresources\/?page_id=240"},"modified":"2026-02-25T14:55:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T19:55:34","slug":"pedagogical-practices-to-support-students-in-need","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/supporting-your-students\/pedagogical-practices-to-support-students-in-need\/","title":{"rendered":"Pedagogical Practices to Support Students in Need"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        Pedagogical Practices to Support Students in Need\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p>Approximately 17,000 students use the <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/academicadvising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Academic Advising Centre<\/a> each year, many of them with similar concerns about university life. Students tend to express feeling:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Socially isolated;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emotionally and\/or intellectually overwhelmed;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unprepared or unsure how to meet expectations at the university level;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Uncertain what services are available to them on campus;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unsure what assistance they can reasonably expect of TAs or instructors;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Afraid they will be rejected or dismissed by instructors if they admit to needing help;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unable to arrange meetings with instructors due to scheduling conflicts with office hours.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It is easy to misinterpret the signs of students\u2019 senses of being isolated, overwhelmed, unprepared, and\/or uncertain as irresponsibility or a lack of interest. Such misinterpretation can intensify the challenges students face and make it more difficult for them to seek help. As Kathleen Gabriel (2008) illustrates, however, instructors can adopt pedagogical practices both inside and outside their classes that can make it easier to provide students with, or direct them toward, the supports they need to thrive in the university environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"w-full max-w-xl mx-auto overflow-hidden bg-white rounded-lg shadow-lg cu-stackedlist cu-component not-contained not-prose\">\n    <h2 class=\"px-6 py-4 text-base font-semibold border-b rounded-t-lg md:text-xl bg-gray-50 text-cu-black-800\">\n        Table of Contents\n    <\/h2>\n    <div class=\"grid cu-scrollto cu-stackedlist--toc cu-stackedlist--1 md:grid-cols-1\">\n            <div class=\"space-y-1\">\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-4 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        1.\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#general-practices\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        General practices\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-4 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        2.\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#practices-for-the-first-day-of-class\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Practices for the first day of class\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-4 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        3.\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#throughout-the-semester\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Throughout the semester\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-4 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        4.\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#if-a-student-approaches-you-with-concerns\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        If a student approaches you with concerns\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n                    \n            <div class=\"pl-4 text-cu-red-700\">\n                <div class=\"flex gap-2 pb-3 text-base md:text-lg\">\n                    <span class=\"font-light text-cu-black-700\">\n                        5.\n                    <\/span>\n\n                    <a href=\"#services-for-students-on-campus\" class=\"font-medium hover:underline\">\n                        Services for students on campus\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n\n                            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"general-practices\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">General practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep in mind that students often have and are learning to balance many responsibilities (including classes, paid employment and family obligations) which may become sources of distress.&nbsp;Reminding yourself that students have complex lives that do not begin and end in their classrooms may help mitigate some of the frustrations instructors sometimes feel when a student seems distracted, for example.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Learn and use students\u2019 names. This helps them feel less isolated, makes you seem more approachable, and lets them know they are more than \u201cjust a number.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get to know students and encourage TAs to do so. Getting to know students makes it easier to notice changes in behaviour and to become familiar with the different types of learners you have in your classroom.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/studentsupport\/student-mental-health-framework\/education-and-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">getting trained<\/a> in 杏吧原创 University\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/studentsupport\/student-mental-health-framework\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Student Mental Health Framework<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Familiarize yourself with resources available to students on campus (see list below).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Familiarize yourself with how to <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/studentsupport\/student-mental-health-framework\/ssid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">support students in distress<\/a>, so you can recognize when a student is in distress and respond effectively if a student approaches you looking for help.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/studentaffairs\/care-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Submit a Care Report<\/a> if you are concerned about a student to document your concern, solicit feedback and\/or follow up, if necessary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"practices-for-the-first-day-of-class\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practices for the first day of class<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Greet students as they enter class to make them feel welcome and decrease the anxiety they may feel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If class size permits, spend some time on student introductions. In large classes, consider setting aside some time at the beginning of each class for a few students to introduce themselves. You could also administer a brief biographical survey to get a sense of students as individuals and as a group. Include questions about learning styles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clearly state what you expect of students and what they can expect of you.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tell students your preferred method of communication (email, Brightspace, office hours), but be aware that many may be unable to attend your office hours due to scheduling conflicts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide a clear, realistic timeline for electronic communication responses. Can students expect to hear back from you within two days, three, five? Having this timeline relieves anxiety and lets students know you are not ignoring them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider taking a few minutes during the first class to provide students with an overview of your teaching philosophy as a framework for interpreting your teaching activities, assignments and assessment techniques.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure that you communicate clear learning outcomes to students.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your class will involve a lot of discussion, develop guidelines for respectful participation in classroom discussions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take some time to inform students about services available on campus, such as the Academic Advising Centre, Writing Tutorial Services, Learning Support Services, and Health and Counselling Services. Include a list of these on your course syllabus or Brightspace page.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"throughout-the-semester\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Throughout the semester<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Draw on a variety of teaching and learning activities (lessons, assignments, tests) to reach out to different types of learners in your classroom. You can sign up for one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/events-and-programs\/programs\/\">TLS certificate programs<\/a> where you will learn how to develop and implement more varied teaching and learning strategies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Learn and incorporate strategies for building inclusive classrooms to ensure students feel that their strengths, abilities and prior knowledge are taken into consideration in the learning environment. You can arrange a consultation with TLS to discuss specific methods for building inclusive classroom environments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In large classes, use a <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/teachingresources\/teaching-tips-and-tools\/face-to-face-teaching-methods\/\">variety of teaching techniques to keep students engaged<\/a> and facilitate learning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Include methods for assessing student learning that are not grade-based.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You may ask students to submit questions at the end of each class and begin the following class by responding to the most common question.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/teachingresources\/communicating-with-your-students\/feedback-on-teaching\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">arranging a midterm evaluation<\/a> of the class.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/brightspace\/instructors\/poll-everywhere\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">student response systems<\/a>&nbsp;in classrooms to assess students\u2019 comprehension of key concepts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Develop online quizzes students can take before class to assess their comprehension of reading material.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider inviting representatives from the Academic Advising Centre, Writing Tutorial Services or Learning Support Services to give presentations in your class.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If students are required to write a research paper for your class, contact a <a href=\"https:\/\/library.carleton.ca\/services\/research-help\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">subject specialist<\/a> from MacOdrum Library to discuss developing a <a href=\"https:\/\/library.carleton.ca\/research\/course-guides\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">course guide<\/a> for students.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"if-a-student-approaches-you-with-concerns\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">If a student approaches you with concerns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Listen attentively and non-judgmentally.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If their concerns are specific to your class, discuss appropriate learning strategies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Know where to direct the student for the help they require.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"services-for-students-on-campus\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Services for students on campus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n    <div class=\"grid gap-6 mx-auto my-6 cu-column md:gap-10 md:grid-cols-2 md:my-10 first:mt-0\">\n        \n<div class=\"cu-column-content\">\n    \n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/academicadvising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Academic Advising Centre<\/a><br>302 Tory Building<br>Phone: (613) 520-7850<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/csas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Centre for Student Academic Support<\/a><br>4th Floor MacOdrum Library<br>Phone: (613) 520-3822<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Health and Counselling Services<\/a><br>2600 杏吧原创 Training and Technology Centre<br>Phone: (613) 520-6674<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/awards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Awards and Financial Aid<\/a><br>202 Pigiarvik<br>Phone: (613) 520-3600<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"cu-column-content\">\n    \n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/career\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Career Services<\/a><br>401 Tory Building<br>Phone: (613) 520-6611<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/co-op\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Co-operative Education<\/a><br>1400 杏吧原创 Technology and Training Centre<br>Phone: (613) 520-4331<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/go-isso\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Global Opportunities &amp; International Student Services Office<\/a><br>4th Floor MacOdrum Library<br>Phone: (613) 520-6600<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/pmc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities<\/a><br> 501 Nideyin\u00e0n<br> Phone: (613) 520-6608<br> TTY: (613) 520-3937<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n    \n    <dl class=\"cu-description cu-component-updated\">\n        \n    <div class=\"grid pt-4 pb-3 border-b accordion border-cu-black-100 md:pt-6 md:pb-5 first:border-t\">\n        <dt class=\"font-semibold not-prose\">\n            <button class=\"flex items-center justify-between w-full text-left accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-references\">\n                <span class=\"flex-1 ml-auto text-left break-words whitespace-normal cu-icon\">\n                    References\n                <\/span>\n                <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-5 h-5 ml-auto transition-transform rotate-0 accordion__icon text-cu-black-500\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M8.25 4.5l7.5 7.5-7.5 7.5\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/dt>\n        <dd class=\"p-0 mt-0 cu-prose cu-prose-first-last accordion__content md:p-0 md:mt-0\" hidden=\"\" id=\"accordion-references\">\n            \n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Carini, Robert M, George D Kuh, and Stephen P Klein. 2006. Student engagement and student learning: Testing the linkages. Research in Higher Education 47(1): 1-32.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chickering, Arthur W and Zelda F Gamson. \u201cSeven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education\u201d. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.uis.edu\/liberalstudies\/students\/documents\/sevenprinciples.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.uis.edu\/liberalstudies\/students\/documents\/sevenprinciples.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gabriel, Kathleen. 2008. Teaching Unprepared Students: Strategies for Promoting Success and Retention in Higher Education. Stylus Books.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kuh, George D, Jillian Kinzie, Ty Cruce, Rick Shoup, and Robert M Gonyea. 2007. \u201cConnecting the Dots: Multi-Faceted Analyses of the Relationships between Student Engagement Results from the NSSE, and the Institutional Practives and Conditions that Foster Student Success\u201d. Report for the Centre for Postsecondary Research, Indiana University Bloomington. <a href=\"http:\/\/nsse.iub.edu\/pdf\/Connecting_the_Dots_Report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/nsse.iub.edu\/pdf\/Connecting_the_Dots_Report.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n        <\/dd>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/dl>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Approximately 17,000 students use the Academic Advising Centre each year, many of them with similar concerns about university life. Students tend to express feeling: It is easy to misinterpret the signs of students\u2019 senses of being isolated, overwhelmed, unprepared, and\/or uncertain as irresponsibility or a lack of interest. Such misinterpretation can intensify the challenges students [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":1099,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[31],"class_list":["post-240","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cu_page_type-supporting-your-students"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=240"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/240\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1792,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/240\/revisions\/1792"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/teachingresources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}