The biggest obstacle I feel for me, is to be able to get across to the students that I am here to teach them skills that will help them succeed in their future endeavours, not lecture or bore them.
By providing a positive first impression, I am:
Giving the students confidence that I will be able to help them achieve their school and job goals.
Let them know that I will do everything I possibly can to help them succeed.
Provide them with a successful role model in the career they have chosen with the experience
Let them know that I have the knowledge and experience to teach them useful skills that will serve them in their careers.
Make them feel at ease and comfortable about the class and the learning experience journey they are about to begin.
You want to make sure your are organized, on time well prepared because that can make the decision for a student whether they will continue with that course or not.
Making a positive first impression on the first day of class sets the tone for the semester. Getting to know the students in the first 15 minutes, shows them you are interested in them as aperson and a student. This is when you set guidelines for the class.
I think a positive first impression is so important because those first few moments will set the tone for the entire course. Some research indicates that people make their initial judgments about a person in .4 seconds! By being prepared as possible for the first impression, I increase my potential for having a positive first impression as my new students walk through the door and take less than half a second to make a judgement about me.
A positive first impression does set the stage for the rest of the quarter. I had a great set of students who understood that I was hired four days before, so they knew I was as well prepared as I could be with short notice. I think it also made them aware that teachers are human too.
This is absolutely true!!! Making a positive first impression will help the students to see you as a model and also as a motivator. Having a good first day will ease the course helping the students to learn strategies to study.
I would say that you should come prepared to class on the first day. It is always good to have everything you need and be ready for the class. Also, I would get there early on the first day of class to talk with students a little bit on an informal basis before class. I dress professionally, but also talk in a very down to earth tone that lets student's know I am knowledgeable but also approachable. I try to make the first class somewhat fun and get the students excited about the class. If I am excited about the material, I think that leads to a good first impression and gets the students interested as well.
Hi All,
Good comments about how creating a positive first impression is so important. Several of you have mentioned how you approach the classroom for the first time. What is some advice you would give to new instructors to help them make a good first impression?
Gary
Making a positive first impression in the class room reminds me of the saying "the first impression is a lasting impression." Setting the stage on the first day of class eliminates stresses and concerns students may have about your course. In addition, it allows the instructor to answer and address any questions and issues that might effect individual learning.
A positive first impression is critical. I try to arrive early and meet students at the door. I use an ice-breaker to make sure students are at ease.
The impression that you make on the first day of class sets the tone for the rest of the classes. By making a good impression on the first day you can make your students feel more comfortable with you and start the session off in a positive way. If you make a negative impression on the first day it can sometimes be difficult to repair that impression later in the course. Students who feel positively about their instructors are more at ease and open to learning.
I agree.. lead by example and they will follow.
A positive first impression is very important when starting a class because if the students have a good impression and positive feeling, it will help them to feel comfortable about the learning enviornment and excited about the course.
When starting a new class it is critical to send a positive message to your class. Being early, prepared, energetic, and professionally dressed can go a long way toward setting the standards and motivating your students.
It set the tone for the students and give them the confidence of the learning process for the class.
Again since I teach online, this comes through in several ways. These include the bio that I post, the way I answer emails, and they way I respond to students in the first few discussions.
John
I remember that as a student I would size up a professor or a class within the first five minutes of the course beginning. I like to leap into my classrooms with plenty of energy and let my students know that if nothing else, this is not going to be a boring hour. This cuts down on students missing classes.
You want your students to be able to trust you and know that you are there to help them achieve their goals. If you, the instructor, comes in with a bad atitude and you act like you don't want to be there, the students will see that and you won't be able to get them to do what you want them to do to get through the class.
When you walk into the classroom for the first time you are trying to gain respect. It is imporant to act professional and to let the studnets know that you are there to instruct and to be a positive facilitator of the course.
Firts impressions are hard to overcome if you mess it up. This is a life lesson to the students as well. The first impression of a potential employer is key in the hiring decision.
Being prepared being professional and being real are key
