I think your letting everyone get settled in and get to know each other and give time to understand we all are nervous about our new endeavors. This gives them time to understand they are all alike and feel the same way for the most part.
The students understand my background, where I have been, my accomplishments, and know I have been where they want to be. When a student introduces themselves, as an instructor, I know where they are coming from and the challenges they have overcome.
Through introductions of myself and the students, we get to know each other well. It is important to know each other and understand each other's personalities because learning is journey that both the instructor and the students undertake together. In order to make this journey worthwhile and interesting, it is important to know who our fellow travellers are. By doing this, the instructor accomplishes the goal of easing out the tensions, anxieties and uncertainties in the minds of the students about the capacities, skills and personality of the instructor.
Aside from being an icebreaker, it's an assessment tool for me on the learning needs of my students. It's a way of connecting to each other and the start of establishing rapport.
Kate,
I like all of the different input points your are asking your students to contribute. All of this information gives you a good idea of the backgrounds and goals of your students. This information will greatly enhance your instructional planning.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
By introducing myself to students I am able to give students an idea of my background (education and work experience) hopefully this will show some credibility :-)
I also spend some time letting students know that I understand how difficult it is to balance work, family, and school. And that this journey is worth the time and expense!
It's great to have the opportunity to have students introduce themselves. I like students to add a post explaining their education goals, work experience, and also their "dream job."
you are taking the first step to creating a repport with your students. Letting them know something personal about you shows them that you are a human being. It also gives them a chance to get to know each other.
I am able to know them better and able to see their learning needs and at the same time I am able to motivate the students as I relate to them my skills, knowledge, and expertise through sharing with them my experiences.
From my introduction to them, I want to convey that I have the experience, commitment and caring to teach them what they came to learn.
From their introductions to me, I want to learn as much about them as I can to determine how I am going to relate to them, both personally and professionally. There is an old customer service adage: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.â€
Once a good relationship is established and maintained, the rest seems to follow.
I believe I have already posted to this question
I try to relax the students during this period to show them I am a reasonable person and that my motivation is to see them move forward toward their career goal. I try to learn from each student something that may indicate their learning abilities and to assure all that I am there to help them understand the material.
Chating about current sports or current events usually gets them to open up a little and start revealing somethings about their personality
Phil,
Yes the do. They are very helpful in setting the tone for the course that is to come. Everyone gets settled in and comfortable so they can look forward to learning.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Introductions help to break the ice, put students at ease, and give the instructor some idea of the background of the individuals in his class.
Rick,
I use student introductions for many of the reasons you listed. It gives me and the students a bit of knowledge about the life experiences that each student is bringing to the class. This information gives me a base from which I can build my instructional planning.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I have been amazed at how each class becomes a small community of it's own during the 7 month program here. I have seen it repeatedly.
Introductions are the beginning of the community forming.
I findintroductions give the entire class an oportunity to learn a bit about the group they will be spending the next 7 months with.
It let's us know of prior experience in the field (aha, a teacher's aide). It gives us some insight into what is motivating the student to make a career change or deepening his knowledge of an already chosen career.
Veronika,
This is an excellent time for the students to learn about you and you them. Also, they get a fix on the type of instructor you are going to be and this helps them get settled into the course.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Of course I am trying to accomplish through introductions of myself everything that was mentioned in module #3 but in my personal case I am trying to let my students know that I am there for them, I am very easy to communicate with and we will have a good time by learning a lot. When the students are introducing themselves I am trying to read them as much as I can, to see what type of students and what background are they coming from because I think it makes a difference.
Introductions allow for students to learn about the instructor and other class participants. It is also a way for the instructor to get to know about the students and it allows a way to place faces to names on an attendance sheet.
By introducing myself students learn of my expertise in the field and that my road of education has brought me to this point in my career. It also alows me to learn something about my sudents.
