Culture Shock! Easing the Transition from High School to

College

Laura Yost – Distance Learning & Social ScienceRobinson Yost – Social Science

Dog Days of Excellence

“Building the Community College’s

Global Capacity” July 2006

• “Crossing Cultures on the Campus”• “Learning to Be Successful in a New Academic System”

If you expect a foreign country to be exactly the same, you’re missing the point!

What are some examples of “culture shock” from your interactions with students?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:1) In what specific ways do your students experience

“culture shock” coming from high school to college?

Basic skills?

Study habits?

Time management?

Priorities?

Purpose of education?

Motivation?

Looking at the Bigger Picture:What Can Happen With Lifelong Learning

Adapting to college-levelexpectations & performance!

• WE start a dialogue . . . begin process - reduce tension & lay out expectations• Shape the dialogue – change is beneficial! - these are positive approaches• This is empowering! - academic, professional, and life skills

Looking at the Bigger Picture:Talking About College Culture

2) What specific things should we do to assist students in adjusting/adapting to “culture shock”?

Things we should do? (helping)

Things we should not do? (coddling)

Healthy balance?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:

1) How would you explain the results on the first seven open-note reading quizzes? What, if anything, would you do as the teacher?

2) Evaluate the following statement: “Learning how to learn (and think) independently is one of the most important things to obtain from college. For someone who is college educated, being able to read and process information on your own is something very valuable and important for future success in life.” [Science]

R.Q. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Totals

10 > 5 7 6 13 9 9 8 57

7-9 2 7 2 0 1 4 6 22

< 6 12 6 6 2 6 5 2 39

1) How would you interpret the collective results on open-note reading quizzes? What, if anything, would you do as the teacher?

R.Q. Mon. Nat. Sci. Holo. Totals

10 > 98 21 57 57 233

7-9 42 12 22 33 109

< 6 62 33 39 41 175

45.1% of RQ scores above are 10 or higher

66.2% of RQ scores above are 7 or higher

3) What specific things should students learn to do for themselves in negotiating “culture shock”?

Biggest challenges for students?

Best practices regarding this issue?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:

How Can We Reduce “Culture Shock”?

1. Make expectations clear

2. Reinforce work ethic3. Establish high

standards4. Have students reflect 5. Talk with other faculty 6. Promote support

services7. Lead by example –

mentor Shannon Zichterman,

5788

Enrolling & attending college means students find

themselves in a different learning environment . . .

Academic challenges relate to note-taking, time

management, skills development, critical thinking,

communication . . .Reducing confusion, tension, anxiety, resentment, unmet expectations . . . Introduce

“college culture”

Looking at the Bigger Picture:How Do You Justify Immersion?

• our job, in part, is to clearly articulate & discuss HOW college IS different . . . • explain WHY different is good!• habits associated with discipline, routine, sacrifice = maturity as a learner