I spend part of the first two class periods on ice breakers. I find that this helps the students become more comfortable with me and with their fellow students. I think this makes a huge difference when it comes time for class discussions and group work.
You are establishing rapport with the students and making yourself approachable. This facilitates the learning environment.
It's a great ice breaker and allows the students and instructor to feel less anxiety. It also allows everyone to get to know each other on a different (more personal) level.
I have found that through various ice breakers they seem to become more involved with this activity.
Hi Frank,
I agree with the introduction part of the course. It really helps to make a connection between the students and yourself. They can start to see why you are the instructor and that you have a lot of content and expertise to share with them. This gets the course off to a good start.
Gary
By introducing myself I share my background experience and try to show how it relates to the subject matter. This helps to show to the students that in addition to the text book I will be sharing practical experiences and how it relates to the work environment. I have the students introduce themselves in order to learn their name, major, what semester there in, and goals. This helps me to get to know the student going forward. It also helps to create a dialog with them.
I want my students to feel that we are in a collaborative environment, not a classroom where I rule the roost. Since so many English Comp students are in their first course, having them get to know one another is important to their overall success as students.
Hi Timothy,
Good way to start the new class. What do you think are some of the key points students need to told the first class meeting to get them excited about the upcoming course?
Thanks.
Gary
My introduction to students allows credibility and rapport up front. Buy detailing experiences and situations has allowed students to ask questions and participate initially.
It allows the students to become comfortable and relaxed with the new instructor, classroom, and other students. It allows the instructor to:
* get comfortable and relaxed with the students,
* get to know the students and possibly determine any special needs that the student may have.
Hi Ellen,
Openings like you are using are great ways to get everyone settled into the course and feeling comfortable with what is going to occur in the coming weeks. Great job.
Gary
I love having them give me one random thing about themselves that other students in the class wouldn't know about them. This seems to relax them and it's fun!
allowing students to get to know me as an individual not just the person giving them their grades it also allows me to learn more about my students and all they bring to the clas
By introducing yourself as the instructor, it lets your students know a bit about your professional and personal background. This can build confidence in your students, because otherwise they might not know exactly why you're qualified to be teaching them anything. By having students introduce themselves, it's a chance for the instructor to start getting to know them and associate names with faces. It's also a chance for students to get to know a little bit about their classmates, which can help relax students that are nervous about not knowing anyone on the first day.
By introducing yourself, your background and expertise, you establish yourself as an authority figure on that topic. This instills their confidence in you as an instructor. By getting to know your students, you will begin to learn their names and some things about them that will help you establish rapport which contributes to a positive learning environment.
Hi Jane,
I am always amazed at students when they are surprised that we instructors are humans to. The fact we have lives outside of the classroom often comes as a shock to them. By sharing a bit about our lives we are doing just what you say in your comments, making ourselves human so they can see us in that light as well. Good point.
Gary
I tell the students about my background in the Medical Field. I also like to tell them a little about my personal background so they see my as a person and not just an authority figure. When the students tell me about their background I try to relate a positive note on their life experience that will help them in the medical field. I find that catches them by surprise but helps them to feel more confident in the new career they have chosen.
I also tell them about my background - education and work background. I teach animal related courses so I go through what pets I have. Students get a sense for what my background is and why I am a good fit to teach the course. When students introduce themselves - I have them not only tell their name but any animal experience they may have and/or pets. We also discuss why they took the course - gives everyone a bit of knowledge about each other. We also get a sense of if the student is "shy" or more outgoing during the introductions :) I also like to do some icebreaker activity as well - such as 2 truths and a lie - or a short scavenger hunt. I find students in my class end up forming strong bonds which develops into study groups, etc.
I find that these introductions are invaluable to me. They give me an opportunity to gain an insight into where my students are coming from and what their background is. This also allows me to share my background with the students. Since I am a working computer programmer with more than 40 years of experience in a myriad of operating systems and programming languages the introduction allows me to show the students that I have a great deal of real-world experience in the day to day world of computer programming. The introduction also allows me to assure the students that I am here to help them learn. It will also allow me to adapt my teaching to where the students are right now and help them to gain the most amount of knowledge that is possible in the relatively short time that we have together.
Holly,
I do icebreakers too. I find that I can learn a lot about my students that way. I too need to expand on myself after so students understand where I coming from.
