The College Student and the Curriculum

A quality curriculum must be in the offing to assist students to achieve more optimally. The curriculum needs to be engaging so that interest in learning is in evidence. Active engagement assists in securing student attendance on a regular basis. Missing class attendance hinders positive progress. Instructors need to look directly at students when classroom activities are implemented in order to communicate effectively. They need to talk to students who have been absent. Reasons for the absent behavior need to be identified and remedied. There, of course, are valid reasons for an absence. If excuses are made by students, the latter must justify the absence. The best instructors that the writer experienced checked attendance regularly. It does not develop student independence when voluntary attendance is in evidence. Making instruction interesting assists in promoting regular attendance. Intrinsically, the student should want to attend each class session.

To be engaged in learning, the student needs to attach meaning to what is being presented as a learning activity. Meaningful activities promote motivation for regular attendance. Stimulating indepth discussions involving critical and creative thinking must be in evidence and is useful in any endeavor.