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Students Speak – We Listen
CCCSE Workshop, May 31, 2011
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Why focus groups? Digging beneath the numbers…moving from “what” to “why”
Bringing data alive through student voices
The power of stories
Center for Community College Student Engagement
I’m sitting in the parking lot…
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
Using numbers (quantitative data) and student voices (qualitative data) together…
The numbers tell you What.
The student voices tell you Why.
Center for Community College Student Engagement
What do students say is the most important college service?
Academic Advising & Planning90%
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Yet…
46% …say they never saw an advisor
(or really aren’t sure…)
Center for Community College Student Engagement
But we gave them the info…
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Students don’t do optional!!
Center for Community College Student Engagement
What entering students are telling us:During their first 3 weeks…
• 71% - advisor helped them pick classes.
• 60% - advisor helped them select a major or program.
• Fewer than 40% - advisor helped them set academic goals and create a plan for achieving those goals.
out
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Please advise me!
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
Advice from Students
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Focus Group Toolkit
http://www.ccsse.org/center/iss/focusgrouptoolkit.cfm
Center for Community College Student Engagement
• Planning Focus Groups
• Recruiting Focus Group Participants
• Discussion Tools
• Analyzing/Reporting
Student Focus Group Toolkit can be adapted for faculty & staff
Planning Focus Groups Selecting a Moderator and Note-
taker Coordinator Responsibilities Coordinator Checklist Room Set-Up Videotaping Guidelines Consent Forms
Recruiting Focus Group Participants
Selecting ParticipantsInviting Participants
Discussion Tools• Moderator Do’s and Don’ts • Moderator’s Guide • Student Profile Sheet • Response Sheet – First Experiences
Analyzing/Reporting• Summary Report Sample
Focus Group Toolkit
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Discussion Qs
Who? Which students do you want to hear from?
What? What do you want to learn from them?
Why? What data lead you to ask those questions?
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Discussion QsCreating the Conversation
• Who is your audience? Which groups do you want to engage in conversations about these issues? What challenges do you see in conducting focus groups?
• How will you use and share this information?
• What do you want people to do with the information you gather?
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Planning Focus Groups • Selecting a Moderator and Note-taker • Coordinator Responsibilities – your team • Coordinator Checklist
• Room Set-Up • Videotaping Guidelines – upon request • Consent Forms
Student Focus Group Toolkit
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Create the conversation…
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
Invite students to talk with each other…
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
Then listen to their conversation…
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
Recruiting Focus Group Participants • Selecting Participants
Your goal is: To gain as accurate a picture as possible of student experiences at the college. You want the good, the bad, and the ugly!
• Invitations & Maintaining Contact
Student Focus Group Toolkit
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Discussion Tools• Moderator Do’s and Don’ts
• Moderator’s Guide
• Student Profile Sheet
• Response Sheets
Student Focus Group Toolkit
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Focus Group Toolkit – Gathering Quantitative Data Along with Qualitative Information
Student Profile Form – Use to gather basic information about your participants
Additional response forms can be used to complement discussion findings. Examples:
• Non-Academic Responsibilities• Finances • Technology Use• First Experiences
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Focus Group Toolkit - Selecting a Moderator
• A time to listen, not to talk.
• Choose your facilitator wisely.
• Objective
• Not known to participants
• Not particularly knowledgeable about what the college is doing
• Able to listen without showing a reaction!
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Group Activity – Create a Discussion Guide
• Select an OUTCOME. What do you want to learn from focus group participants?
• What 3 or 4 QUESTIONS could you ask to get to that outcome?
• Write OUTCOME and QUESTIONS on paper.
Select one person to share your group’s discussion guide with session participants.
Focus Group Toolkit – Moderator Guide
Sample Outcome: To understand students’ earliest academic experiences with the college.
Sample Questions: Think about your first day in class at this college. What was it like? What happened on that first day or during the first couple of classes? Did any of your instructors tell you what they expect from you in the class? If so, what did they tell you? How do those expectations match your own expectations for your college experience?
Focus Group Toolkit – Moderator Guide
Sample Questions: When did you decide to go to college? While in high school? After high school? Did you work for a while before deciding to return to school?
Sample Outcome: To understand what motivates students to pursue higher education
Sample Questions: Why did you decide to go to college? Did anyone urge you to go to college? Parents? Friends? High school teachers or counselors? Anybody else?
Advice from Students:
For the college: What works? What doesn’t? What could the college do better to help students get off to a good start?
For new students: What do you wish you had done differently? What advice would you give your brother/sister/friend who is just starting college?
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Students tell you what doesn’t work… advice…
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
Students cause you to rethink your choices…
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
Students suggest new approaches…
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Center for Community College Student Engagement
Students tell you what’s working…
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What are your next steps?
Let’s Listen!
Center for Community College Student Engagement
Center for Community College Student Engagement
For more information:
Arleen Arnsparger
Project Manager Initiative on Student Success Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE)