First impressions are important in society in general. It can take a long time to reverse a negative first impression. Assuring that students will have a positive first impression gets the class started on the right path.
Hi Dae,
The first day is so important as you mention. By helping the students to feel a part of the class and get settled in you are helping to reduce their fears so they can focus on being successful in the course.
Gary
Students are anxious, excited, nervous, and scared on the first day of class. A positive first impression helps to ease those anxieties. Humor and laughter helps to break down the walls of social awkwardness and promote a positive learning environment.
First impressions can make or break your professional career! You want your students to have respect for you so you need to show you deserve it by doing the following:
1) being the first one in the classroom
2) being prepared
3) dress and present self appropriately
4) be positive, attentive and courteous
Thanks!
Kelli
I agree. It can help make them more confident in your abilities.
First impression allows the students to know the instructor personally, and set a stage for what to expect throughout the course. It gives the students a sence of relief to have an idea about the general course overview and how they can succeed.
Students are very nervous their first day. By creating a positive first impression you will ease nerves and allow the students to feel comfortable in your presence and not intimidated.
Hi Theresa,
You make a very good point about connecting with the students by letting them know the experiences you had as a former student. This is a great way to establish rapport with them as well as they see how your own career has developed over the years.
Gary
I agree that making a good first impression is very important. After all, you only get one chance to make a good first impression and you have to make the most of it. I also agree that the students need to know that they have an advocate and/or mentor who is rooting for their success. However, I would like to take this one step further and say that it also helps to remind the student[s] that you were once a student yourself, and that you understand the challenges that they are facing because you faced them as well and succeeded in reaching your goal. Students see their instructor as someone who has been through what they are going through and has come through successfully. They realize that they are not alone, and that others have gone before them.
Making a positive first impression sets the stage for the entire class. Meeting your students at the door and welcoming them is key. Once students feel respected, they are more likely to put forth any extra effort you would ask of them. Calling students by name also creates a positive first impression. Everyone likes to know that you know their name!
The first impression is everything! The students will size you up in the first 5 seconds of walking into class. You can't undo a first impression.
A positive first impression sets the tone for your class. It gives the class a clear understanding of what will be expected of them through out the course.
Yes, it is an excellent way to calm fears. All the students seem to be filled with fear. Yet, the fears are as diverse as the student body.
It is very important that you come across professional and confident. If students see that then they feel like their instructor knows what he or she is doing. They also know what is expected of them by that first impression.
The first day of class is a feeling out process for both the students and the instructor. From a student's persepctive they want to know what type of instructor they have, i.e. do i show up late, monotone delivery, don't make eye contact, etc. All of these things set the stage for further problems with the learning enviornment later. By creating a postive first impression you as an instructor are developing the foundations for the class.
I think making positive impressions are not only important on the first day, but also on the second and third times we meet with our students. Taking the extra time to help students feel that the classroom is a safe and fun learning environment at the beginning of a course will go a long way to making the rest of the classroom time more productive for both students and instructors.
I agree, it shows the student you take your roll as instructor very seriously. Being in the classroom before the students and having the course name and my name helps the student know their in the right class.
It is very important to be positive and always have a smile especially the first day of the class. This opens the first initial comfortable lines of communication between the students.
A positive first impression is always important. This gives the students a sense of a caring instructor and one that they believe will listen to their concerns about their education. Feelings of positiveness from an instructor on the first day of class can set students at ease even if the course is challenging. When the students feel that positive energy from the instructor they feel they can achieve all of their expectations and many of the instructor's.
Because it conveys your degree of professionalism, sets the tone for the course and tells students what you expect from them. Also-- I typically ask students what they expect from me as their instructor. Overall-- your integrity and credibility can get expressed in the first class by distributing a great syllabus with clear expectations and learning objectives.
