Meeting the Class
Introduce yourself and explain what you do as an instructor to make their lives a lot easier.
John,
I like to use ice breakers for my classes as well for the reasons you stated. It helps them to get to know each other and get settled into the course a little before we start the course content.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I always have an ice breaker for the students to ease the tension and open the floor for easier discussions. I also allow the students an opportunity to address the instructor and other students by introducing themselves and asking what they would like to get from the course. It allows me to enter the class room through the student's own skin and flush out those hidden thoughts.
I always ask my students "what is your name, what experience do you have with animals ( vet tech), and what do you want to do when you get out of school. This helps me define their goals and look for opportunities to guide them along the way.
