Ensuring Student Success: 7 Tools to Help Students Excel

Ensuring student success requires a multi-faceted approach, incorporating tools like personalized learning plans, effective time management strategies, and emotional support systems.

By leveraging technology and fostering a growth mindset, educators can provide students with the necessary resources and skills to excel academically and personally, promoting holistic development and long-term achievement.

In this article, we will explore the nature of student success, highlighting key factors like wellbeing and academic achievement and how positive psychology can drive success. We will journey into the role of psychological capital (PsyCap), tips for creating a student success plan, the benefits of student coaching, and essential tools and motivational quotes to inspire excellence.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Education Exercises for free. These ready-made tools are perfect for enhancing your teaching approach, making it easier to engage students in meaningful, student-centered learning.

What Does Student Success Look Like? 6 Factors to Consider

Contrary to the long-standing belief that you need to be smart to achieve success, success is dependent upon various factors.

Studies suggest that student success is influenced by:

• Academic achievement
• Critical thinking
• Social-emotional wellbeing
• Self-efficacy
• Organization
• Stress management
• Involvement in activities
• Emotional satisfaction
• Class communication
• Social relationships
• School facilities
• Learner effort

Each of these areas needs to be addressed to ensure not only classroom success but overall educational prosperity.

Academic achievement

In their study of first-year college students, Zanden et al. (2018) developed a conceptual framework to describe student success. Academic achievement is the first of these three domains of the framework.

They describe academic achievement as “an indicator of the quality and efficiency of an educational program” (Zanden et al., 2018, p. 58). Examples of academic achievement may include credit points or grade point averages.

Critical thinking

The second domain derived from the Zanden et al. (2018) framework is critical thinking.

Some of these skills may include making decisions or solving problems, judging and evaluating, inferences by inductive or deductive reasoning, and analyzing claims, arguments, or evidence (Zanden et al., 2018).

Organization

Organization skills play a critical role in student success by helping students manage their time and resources effectively. Students who develop strong organizational skills tend to perform better academically and experience less stress (Dabbagh & Kitsantas, 2004).

Effective organization strategies, such as maintaining a planner and setting clear priorities, enable students to stay on top of their assignments and responsibilities (Nonis & Hudson, 2010). These practices not only improve academic outcomes, but also foster a sense of control and confidence in students, contributing to their overall wellbeing and success.

Stress management

Effective stress management is crucial for student success, as it directly impacts both academic performance and overall wellbeing. Students who engage in regular stress-reduction activities, such as mindfulness and physical exercise, report better concentration and higher academic achievement (Wiguna et al., 2018).

Additionally, developing healthy coping mechanisms can mitigate the adverse effects of stress, enabling students to approach their studies with a clearer, more focused mindset (Regehr et al., 2013).

Learner effort

Learner effort is a predictor of student success, as sustained effort directly correlates with academic achievement and mastery of material. Students who consistently apply themselves to their studies tend to achieve higher grades and demonstrate greater comprehension of course content (Credé & Kuncel, 2008).

Furthermore, the dedication to regular study habits and active participation in class activities fosters a deeper engagement with the subject matter, leading to improved long-term retention and academic performance (Duckworth et al., 2011).

By prioritizing effort and persistence, students can maximize their educational outcomes.

Self-efficacy

Self-efficacy, or the belief in one’s ability to succeed in specific tasks, plays a pivotal role in student success. High self-efficacy is associated with greater motivation, resilience, and academic performance (Zimmerman & Schunk, 2011).

Students who possess strong self-efficacy are more likely to engage in challenging tasks, persist through difficulties, and achieve higher grades (Honicke & Broadbent, 2016). By fostering self-efficacy through positive feedback, goal setting, and skill development, educators can help students enhance their academic outcomes and overall confidence.

As we discussed, there are numerous factors that contribute to student success. Being smart alone will not necessarily lead to success. Arel Moodie delivers an excellent TEDx Talk that reaffirms this fact.

Wellbeing & Other Contributors to Academic Achievement

Surpassing these factors, student wellbeing will be of the utmost importance. Just as parental support can influence the above, it can also have positive effects on the following contributors to academic achievement.

Emotional satisfaction

Emotional satisfaction influences student success by fostering a positive learning environment and enhancing motivation. When students experience emotional satisfaction through supportive relationships and a sense of belonging, they are more likely to engage actively and perform better academically (Tinto, 2017).

Emotional wellbeing contributes to a positive outlook, reducing stress and anxiety, which in turn facilitates better focus and cognitive functioning.

Social-emotional wellbeing

Zanden et al.’s (2018) third domain consists of social-emotional wellbeing, which involves students’ ability to cope with intra- and interpersonal challenges. Considering students’ psychosocial development and social-emotional learning will help predict their adaptability and ability to navigate transitions to middle school, high school, college, and post-high school plans.

Social relationships and involvement in activities

Social relationships and involvement in school activities impact student success, as they provide a support system and foster a sense of community.

Engaging in extracurricular activities and building strong peer connections have been shown to enhance academic performance and personal development (Fujiyama et al., 2021).

School facilities

Creating and sustaining positive institutions, such as a school, promotes collective wellbeing and enhances individual flourishing (Seligman, 2011).

Quality school facilities play a vital role in student success by providing a conducive learning environment. Access to resources such as libraries, laboratories, and technology-rich classrooms supports diverse learning needs and provides a well-rounded educational experience.

Leveraging Positive Psychology Principles for Success

In today’s fast-paced and often challenging world, the principles of positive psychology offer invaluable tools for achieving personal and professional success.

By focusing on strengths, fostering resilience, and cultivating positive emotions, students can enhance their wellbeing and performance.

Focus on strengths

Being fully absorbed in activities that use their strengths and skills leads to a state of flow, where students build intrinsic motivation and experience deep enjoyment (Csikszentmihalyi, 2014).

Mindfulness, breathing, and meditative practice allow a student the mental space to focus on their strengths. Strength-finding tests are instrumental in helping students find their inner capabilities that can lead to student success.

Resilience

Resilience is a key factor in student success, enabling individuals to adapt and thrive in the face of academic challenges. Resilient students are more likely to maintain high levels of motivation and academic performance despite setbacks (Hartley, 2011).

Building resilience through supportive relationships and coping strategies helps students develop a positive mindset and persistence, which are critical for long-term achievement.

Positive emotions

Experiencing positive emotions like joy, gratitude, and love can enhance wellbeing and broaden one’s thought-action repertoire.

Taking this principle a step further, fostering a growth mindset, where students believe their abilities can be developed through effort and perseverance, can lead to higher achievement. Dweck (2016) found that students with a growth mindset are more likely to embrace challenges and persist in the face of setbacks.

An Essential Skill for Student Success: PsyCap

Psychological capital, also known as PsyCap, is drawn from positive psychology and encompasses four constructs: hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism (Luthans & Youssef-Morgan, 2017).

PsyCap is increasingly recognized as an essential skill for student success. Luthans et al. (2015) contend that students with PsyCap are better equipped to handle academic pressures and are more likely to achieve their educational goals. These students tend to exhibit greater motivation, persist through challenges, and demonstrate resilience, all of which contribute to higher academic performance and overall wellbeing.

Further, a study by Datu et al. (2018) supports the notion that enhancing PsyCap can significantly improve students’ academic outcomes. Their findings indicate that interventions aimed at boosting self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and resilience can lead to increased engagement and reduced anxiety, resulting in better academic results.

By fostering PsyCap, educational institutions can help students develop the psychological resources necessary to navigate the complexities of academic life and achieve long-term success.

3 Tips for Creating a Student Success Plan

Creating a student success plan is essential for guiding students toward their academic and personal goals. Students can enhance their performance and achieve lasting success by incorporating structured strategies and using available resources.

Here are three tips to develop an effective student success plan.

Goals

Setting clear, achievable goals will be critical for student success. Establishing specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goals (SMART goals) helps students focus their efforts. Research by Locke and Latham (2013) indicates that goal setting is crucial for motivation and performance improvement. Various types of goals can be created.

An example of a math goal may be: By the end of the semester, I will improve my algebra skills by mastering the core concepts of solving linear equations and inequalities by achieving a score of at least 85% on the next three algebra tests and quizzes.

Another goal may involve study time, such as: In the next three months, using the Pomodoro method, I will dedicate two hours per day to studying for the Italian language test, as measured by the timer on my phone.

See the TEDx Talk below by Yana Savitsky to learn more about the Pomodoro study method, which breaks down time periods and embeds breaks.

Time management

Effective time management strategies, such as prioritizing tasks and creating a study schedule, are essential for academic success. Häfner et al. (2015) found that explicit time management training significantly improved student performance.

Time management techniques help ensure a healthy life–study balance and prevent procrastination. An effective student success plan should have a study timetable.

Interestingly enough, you may want to start creating this schedule by inputting fun activities and socializing first, followed by various times throughout the week for studying. This can help ensure a healthy life balance.

With more about the importance of creating and sticking to a study schedule, Douglas Barton delivered an informative TEDx Talk about this time management technique and other strategies other successful students use.

Support

Build a support network that includes family. Friends, mentors, and teachers provide students with the emotional and practical support they need. Research by Wilcox et al. (2015) emphasizes the importance of social support in academic success.

Who will help the student remain accountable? Whom will the student refer to for assistance with a subject? With whom will the student share their success? Having a clear idea of who these individuals are and assigning these roles will help to alleviate the mental load later.

How a Student Coach Can Help

Do you need assistance in creating a student success plan to reach both educational and personal goals and want to elicit the help of an experienced professional? Perhaps a student coach is needed.

A student coach could create a customized learning plan, provide resources, suggest accommodations, and serve as a mentor. This individual will work with you one-on-one to create an educational environment that is conducive to success.

Howlett et al. (2021) found that academic coaching helped undergraduate college students develop their metacognition. The student coaching was credited with improving students’ academic performance through increased study skills and time management. Students in this study also reported that they would seek this type of coaching in the future and recommend this strategy to others.

5 Tools to Help Students Excel

There are an endless number of tools available claiming to help student success; however, some strategies pack more of a punch. The following are research-derived tools that help cultivate student success.

1. Active learning strategies

Techniques like collaborative learning, problem-based learning, and peer teaching have been shown to enhance understanding and retention of material. For instance, Freeman et al. (2014) demonstrated that active learning strategies significantly improve student performance in science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines.

2. Educational technology

Digital tools and platforms can facilitate personalized learning and provide access to a wealth of resources. For example, the integration of learning management systems and educational apps has been found to support student engagement and academic achievement (Dabbagh & Kitsantas, 2012).

3. Metacognitive skills training

Teaching students how to plan, monitor, and evaluate their learning processes can lead to better academic outcomes. Zepeda et al. (2015) highlighted that metacognitive training can improve student learning and problem-solving skills.

4. Mindfulness and stress management

Incorporating mindfulness practices and stress management techniques can help students manage anxiety and improve focus. Bamber and Schneider (2016) found that mindfulness interventions can reduce stress and enhance academic performance.

5. Formative assessment and feedback

Providing ongoing, formative assessments and constructive feedback helps students identify areas for improvement and track their progress. Black and Wiliam (2009) emphasized that formative assessment practices significantly enhance learning outcomes.

Student Success Motivational Quotes

Need a little inspiration before diving into student success planning? Perhaps these motivational quotes will provide some inspiration.

Student engagement is widely recognized as critical—simply put, students who are engaged with their studies are more likely to be successful.

Kahu & Nelson, 2018, p. 2

Student success is directly influenced not only by the clarity and consistency of expectations but also by their level. High expectations are a condition for student success, low expectations a harbinger of failure.

Tinto, 2012, p. 4

As we have discovered in our studies of collaborative learning for the National Center on Postsecondary Teaching, Learning, and Assessment, gaining that voice and sharing it with others is a very powerful educative experience that enhances both learning and student persistence.

Tinto, 2003, p. 10

Some researchers have suggested that the most important element to success and retention
in the first year is student involvement (Astin, 1984). The development of interpersonal relationships with peers is critically important for student success.

Pritchard & Wilson, 2003, p. 19

PositivePsychology.com’s Helpful Resources

As you may already know, PositivePsychology.com has a plethora of helpful resources. From worksheets and articles to tools, we know you will find these resources most helpful.

Worksheets

Concerning student wellness, our Wellness Map will provide a focus for the student and guidance counselor to plan and chart for success. This map could be used to create goals for studying skills, organization, stress management, and more.

Our Student Work Reflection worksheet will help to facilitate the metacognition skills necessary for enhancing current and future schoolwork. This resource considers how the student can improve, what they are proud of, what challenges they are facing, and how to overcome those challenges.

Articles

Arguably more important than traditional intelligence, emotional intelligence is a strong predictor of success. In pursuit of enhancing your student’s emotional intelligence, our article titled Teaching Emotional Intelligence to Teens and Students may be of interest to you. This resource contains lesson plans, a slide presentation, questionnaires, and games concerning emotional intelligence.

Self-efficacy is an important aspect in any setting. Furthermore, resilience will help students to persist when faced with challenges. Our article Resilience in Education and How to Foster Resilient Students will be critical for obtaining ideas for instilling resilience. This article contains lesson plans and 100 activities for teaching resilience in the classroom.

Tools

As discussed, resilience is a pivotal element in positive psychology and is pertinent for student success. Our Realizing Resilience Masterclass© will help you deliver high-quality, research-based resilience training. These six modules are scientifically proven to help you educate others on resilience.

If you want to integrate the evidence-based principles of positive psychology into the classroom, consider this collection of 17 validated positive education exercises. Use them to enhance student engagement, resilience and wellbeing while also equipping students with valuable life skills.

A Take-Home Message

In conclusion, ensuring student success requires a comprehensive approach that integrates learning, effective time management, and emotional support.

By focusing on holistic development and leveraging positive psychology principles such as resilience, self-efficacy, and emotional wellbeing, educators can create an environment that fosters both academic excellence and personal growth.

Implementing the tools and strategies discussed in this article can empower students to navigate their educational journeys with confidence, motivation, and a clear path to long-term success in and outside the classroom.

Do you have any additional methods to ensure student success? We’d love to hear them in the comments below.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Education Exercises for free.