Meeting the class for the first time
The meeting of the class can make or break the tone set for the entire course period. I have been instructing for over 6 years and this was one of the first lessons I learned and then forgot. I took one on the chin and it made me realize not to skip a step. With the cohart teaching we do, it is easy to assume or feel your students have heard your introduction over and over again, but I learned it creates a great understanding between you and your class no matter how many times they may feel it has been covered.I have learned to take it to a different level and the students usually do the same.
I am a hot rod instructor and have found that most students coming to the Hot Rod enviroment are overexcited and boisterous due to the hype of the class. Over the past few tears i have started each class with a brief intro about myself and history followed by my personal guidelines and boundaries. I then give each student a itemized list of what they can expect out of the class. After the handouts I have each student write a question or goal on the board about what they want to learn in this course. This way all basis are covered including the information out of the cirriculum plus the above and beyond items that they list on the board. This sets the tone for the class and i believe it gives the student a feeling of getting there full amount of education out of the course.
I totally agree with you. Coming from a clinical instructors point of view, my fellow instructors have mentioned the same speech over and over again of what is expected of them in class and out in the clinical sites.
Hi Aaron,
Thank you for this perspective about starting a new class. I am sure this is a common feeling among faculty. The reflect on the progress that the last group made and suddenly the phase is over and it is time to start a new bunch all over again. Glad to hear how you have gotten the worries part down to the first part of the first day and then are ready to proceed. Keep up the good work.
Gary
I have noticed in the 4 years that I have been doing this that the 1st day of class is my favorite and most hated time of the whole phase. The thought of a new group of students is very exciting but all of the worries that I had just overcome with the last group come right back. I have now been able to narrow this down to the first 2 hours and not the whole day,,,,, It has made the classes more productive for me and the students. Aaron
Hi Edward,
You make a number of good points of how to work with cohort student groups. The key is as you mentioned not to miss a step in explaining about expectations and outcomes.
Gary
