Greeting Adult learners
what are some other ways to greet adult learners?
Robert,
How we greet students sets the stage for the class to come. By being upbeat and excited about the class and letting the students know they are valued is a great way to start the session.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I greet each person as if they are welcome and I am happy to see them. The greeting is the first gauge of how the day is going to be, so is it a good day or a bad day? You snub them or give them a dirty look it sets the tone for them. The day can be “oh great…here we go†or it could be “its going great!†the greeting sets the tone for students on where the day is heading, and is very important.
Steven,
You have outlined the important aspects of providing support to adult learners. They need to know they are valued, that they can be successful and that there is mutual respect between them and the instructor. With that foundation they are ready to put forth the effort needed to be achieve the course goals.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Saying "Hello" when each individual enters the classroom is always appropriate and establishes that their presence is important to the instructor. When it is time for the course to begin, then it is very helpfule for an extended self-introduction so that the learneres will be apprised about their instructor's background and motivation for providing the course. Having the class fill out individual "background information surveys" that ask about related training and experience, aspiraions for the course, expected self outcomes, etc also lets them know that their backgrounds are important to the instructor. Of course, this informatyion is not made public but is used in subsequent individual conversations withthe student. A geneeral way to help individuals identify commonalities, which helps to establish rapport between individuals and withthe instructor is to have a discussion about declared fields of studey. This helps students identify commonalities and also enables them to see that diffrernt background interests have similar learning objectives. When the instructoor is able draw upon their own range of life experiences and validate the experiences and goals of the students by so doing, this caan further demonstrate to the student how their learning is also vaslued by the instructor and thus also serve as a way to demonstrate the regard the instructor has for each individual.
I believe if you greet your students professionally,a nd treat them with respect,a nd treat them as individuals you will succeed, you also have to implement that you are "real" for ultimate respect.
Thank you. I enjoy my profession and I hunger to always improve the learning approach. I have enjoyed the content of the course. Impressive. Kudos. D
Hi D,
Like the way you laid our your approach to working with your students. This is a supportive student centered approach that enables you to maintain the standards of your course while customizing your instruction based upon student needs. This is what being an instructional delivery expert is all about. Thanks.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I greet students very much the same way I greet individuals in my community. I wear a smile, often shake their hand and comment on an account of generality. When greeting, it is just that, a greeting and therefore I do not bring course work into the greet or it can be confusing. Making light of the late individual can break the ice but get a point across that tardiness is inappropriate. For example, "Don't you agree Mr. Jones?" They realize you recognize them and that is affirmation plus they can smile if you are smiling and it lightens the load for whatever reason they made them late. Sometimes discussing tardiness as an ethical issue within the lecture gets the point across without pointedly demeaning the individual (a strategy I totally disagree with). Life happens around students and we should remember that, but hold students to expectations that are clearly outlined. Greetings create connectivity, a necessary position for an instructor to improve relative and hopefully passionate learning. Life long learning within any course is a personal goal. Plant the seed. Water seeds planted by others and provide sun shine often. Remember that seasons need to occur for continuous seedling and harvest creation. I ask myself often, what season am I in and how is that affecting me? Maybe I need some water and sunshine too. D
Terum,
Greet them as adults and in the same way as you would like to be greeted. Show them respect as the come into class and address them in a formal way. All of these efforts will demonstrate to them that they are valued members of the class and that you are there to support them in their learning efforts.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
