What prevents our students from completing their goals

[BrianFord]

Many things can prevent our students from completing their goals, including:
• Fear: Fear of failure can paralyze them, while fear of success can lead to self-sabotage.
• Lack of clarity: They might not know what they want to achieve or why they're doing it.
• Procrastination: Putting off their goal or waiting to take action.
• Lack of support: They might not have the support they need to achieve their goals.
• Negative thoughts: Doubting their abilities. Negative emotions like fear of criticism.
• Not prioritizing it: Not prioritizing their goal in their schedule.
• Underestimating the difficulty: Not realizing how hard it will be to achieve their goal.
• Giving up too soon. Quitting. Giving up before they see results.
• Not anticipating problems: They might not plan or anticipate their challenges.
• Focusing on the reward: They might focus on getting a reward instead of putting in the effort.
As instructors, we must help students overcome these obstacles and complete their goals.

 

[Emmanuel Phakula Mandala]

@BrianFord Absolutely! As an instructor, it's essential to be close to your students and have conversations with them. Discovering their daily challenges that hinder their academic excellence can make a big difference..

 

[jasoneckert]

Insufficient caffeination should also be added to that list.

 

[Rick Butler]

As odd as it sounds, the fear of success is also something that can get in the way. Students fear the potential consequences of succeeding - sort of an exact opposite of the imposter syndrome. Sometimes, when you win, it paints a big bullseye on your back, with people having expectations of you, since you've proven you can do more.

It's a real thing.

 

[Trevor Chandler]

Insufficient caffeination should also be added to that list.

That's one that should be at the top of the list!!!!

 

[Rick Butler]

Insufficient caffeination should also be added to that list.

That's one that should be at the top of the list!!!!

In that case, then I would recommend going over to our good friends at Biohazard Coffee (https://biohazardcoffee.com/). 928mg of caffeine for a 12oz cup.

Even I had to cut it into regular coffee - that stuff is what powers gaming marathons.

 

[Trevor Chandler]

In that case, then I would recommend going over to our good friends at Biohazard Coffee (https://biohazardcoffee.com/). 928mg of caffeine for a 12oz cup.

Even I had to cut it into regular coffee - that stuff is what powers gaming marathons.

Not being a connoisseur of this beverage, that 928mg reference to caffeine content has
zero meaning to me. So, without the ability to contribute any meaningful commentary,
I'll just move myself from the playing field, into the stands, with the fans!!!

 

[precious]

Empowering them to push past fear and uncertainty.

 

[Jill West]

Insufficient caffeination should also be added to that list.

Over-caffeination could also be added to the list. Can't tell you the number of times I've had students come in amped up on energy drinks with little to no sleep, and they simply can't learn well that way. (To be fair, many of the ones doing this are doing the best they can--they work night shift, have kids, dealing with health issues, or all of the above and more).

 

[Rick Butler]

Over-caffeination could also be added to the list. Can't tell you the number of times I've had students come in amped up on energy drinks with little to no sleep, and they simply can't learn well that way. (To be fair, many of the ones doing this are doing the best they can--they work night shift, have kids, dealing with health issues, or all of the above and more).

That's probably true as well. IntelliTec used to offer free coffee to students, and one day, I walked in and saw cups stood up in a pyramid - a testament to obsessively trying to make some kind of statement about his coffee habits. And then I had another student who, I'd swear his blood-type was Monster. I wonder if these kids have kidneys left.

We used to have a saying around here, "Life Gets in the Way" - which we would truncate to an institutionalized LGW code when students would have more life than they could handle, going to school which only adds to the stress, which then upsets the entire boat.

 

[Mark Anthony Germanos]

I love the caffeine comments, and disclose I had Diet Coke and a banana for breakfast.

Getting back to business, I vote for Brian's "Underestimating the difficulty: Not realizing how hard it will be to achieve their goal."

 

[Rick Butler]

Getting back to business, I vote for Brian's "Underestimating the difficulty: Not realizing how hard it will be to achieve their goal."

How many students have we all had to have that hard conversation with - the ones that tell them that they are mismanaging their expectations. Students think they'll get $75,000 by just passing their A+

I saw a video of a YouTuber I follow that had to close his channel this month from being unable to keep up the revenue. He noted that he recently got his A+ Certification, in hopes of getting some kind of job to help him pay his bills. I hope he does and wish him well on that. But A+ these days, to be honest, doesn't command the level of salary that it used to (IMAO). But that's a completely separate conversation, and one of massive implication.

But how many folks come into this, thinking that it's going to be a cakewalk to monetary success, if they just get "this cert or that cert"? And they see the work behind, not only getting certs, but having to maintain them to stay in the game.

 

[Gregory Childers]

How many students have we all had to have that hard conversation with - the ones that tell them that they are mismanaging their expectations. Students think they'll get $75,000 by just passing their A+

It's been that way for decades. And part of the blame goes to the sales and marketing teams with various certification organizations and training companies. They sell expensive boot camps with a test pass guarantee so students can exam cram a certification. I just saw one a moment ago in my LinkedIn feed that promised a six-figure career in cybersecurity in only 90 days. The students spend a lot of money, but they still can't get hired for anything other than an entry-level position because they have no hands-on skills or experience.

As a result, the students try to cut corners by using low-quality materials like abridged, shoddy videos, online flashcards, generative AI, and brain dumps. The students who do manage to pass have "paper" certifications and still can't get a decent job, and they devalue the certifications in the process.

 

[Rick Butler]

As a result, the students try to cut corners by using low-quality materials like abridged, shoddy videos, online flashcards, generative AI, and brain dumps. The students who do manage to pass have "paper" certifications and still can't get a decent job, and they devalue the certifications in the process.

Ahh, yes, that r/CompTIA Reddit sub crowd - people who see the value of certification in terms of salary, but do not want to actually pay for anything or complain about how expensive it is to get material and/or vouchers - so in effect, are really just kind of stealing. I used to interact with these people but gave up because it just seemed like they were trying the quick-and-easy way to get ahead on things.

I, myself, am willing to help just about anyone that is serious about learning. I just don't have a lot of time or patience for people who game the system in order to quickly take what it's taken the earnest among us years to earn. As you said, it cheapens and devalues it in so many ways. Maybe I'm just getting cranky in my older years, but quality over quantity extends all over the certification world. But that drive for more money and recognition does push people to cutting corners.

/r

 

[Gregory Childers]

Ahh, yes, that r/CompTIA Reddit sub crowd - people who see the value of certification in terms of salary, but do not want to actually pay for anything or complain about how expensive it is to get material and/or vouchers - so in effect, are really just kind of stealing. I used to interact with these people but gave up because it just seemed like they were trying the quick-and-easy way to get ahead on things.

I, myself, am willing to help just about anyone that is serious about learning. I just don't have a lot of time or patience for people who game the system in order to quickly take what it's taken the earnest among us years to earn. As you said, it cheapens and devalues it in so many ways. Maybe I'm just getting cranky in my older years, but quality over quantity extends all over the certification world. But that drive for more money and recognition does push people to cutting corners.

/r

I post there because there are a few learners on the subreddit who want to do things legitimately. But yes, there is a large number of people who want to cut corners so they can jump up to a six-figure, mid-career job, with no experience, no skills, and just a few "paper" certs.

Plus, the board is much busier than the CIN boards. The CIN boards aren't very active except for two people who post more than the next seven people combined. That is a shame.