Keep Tabs on Student Progress with a Simple Per-Student Tracker

Many SHSM teachers tell us that they have trouble tracking student achievement within the SHSM program. Once they get students enrolled, they need tools keep them on track to earn their red seal!

There are two kinds of tracking we recommend: Overall tracking and per-student tracking. Overall tracking systems should help you monitor broader objectives and measurables - enrolment numbers, attendance at events, placement schedules, etc. At a very basic level, a few simple attendance sheets would fit the bill.

The second tracking system is our focus here – the Per Student Tracking System. This system allows you to monitor the progress of each student individually – a sort of checklist for both you and the student to show the requirements they’ve completed and the ones that are still outstanding. Of course, there is the official SHSM Record – an online tracking tool, but it’s not the most convenient for regular check-ins and visualization of your progress.
 
We advise creating your own simplified tracking form for you and students. There are lots of ways you could create this, but the important thing is that it’s simple enough to be usable. Keep your students on track and accountable!
 
Here are some key things to consider when tracking individual students through their SHSM program:

1. Start early. Have a template ready to go right away. Think about how you will set up regular meetings with your students to check in on their progress.
2. Make it simple. Make the tracking form a visual account of the progress – with boxes to check off. Keep it to one page so it’s easy to understand at a glance, and easier to file.
3. Make it comprehensive. Be sure that your tracker takes into account ALL of the things students need to earn their SHSM Red Seal – Courses, Certificates, Reach-Ahead Opportunities, Experiential Learning, and Essential Skills. Make it as simple as you can without leaving anything out.
4. Have students own it. While keeping a copy for yourself will ease YOUR mind, ensure students also get a blank copy of the tracker when they first start the program so they know where they’re headed. Make sure they know how to keep track of their progress and let them know that you’ll check in regularly.
5. Make it customizable. Your tracker is only useful if it takes into account the specific needs of the student. Customize the template to take into account course combinations, specific workshop electives, contacts for reach-ahead opportunities, etc.
6. Start with paper. When you create your template, draft it on good ol’ fashioned paper. In fact, it might be easiest to draw it by hand and just photocopy it rather than mess around with computer images. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect – you can refine it as you go. Limiting yourself to a single page allows you to get all your ideas in one place. Once you’ve used it for a year or so and worked out the kinks, you can do it up on the computer if you want it to look fancier. 

If you want an example, we’ve drawn up a very rough draft template that might inspire yours. It’s simple, visual, and it leaves spaces for course names, workshop titles, and descriptions of relevant experiences.
 
Most importantly, remember that ANY system is better than no system. If tracking is a challenge right now, consider how you could make a very basic system to reduce your stress and help more students complete the program!
 
Do you have tips you can share? Got a great idea for how to track student success? Comment below!

---