This is the beginning of building a report with you students. Having a solid report is good way to set up a good classroom management situation for yourself as an instructor, and the students as learners.
I also us a method similar to this. We try to use the introduction period to learn about each other. It makes the students feel that we are real people with real lives also.
I give my students a biography and let them know about my background. I also try to set up a forum where students can tell me about themselves. That way they can familiarize themselves with not only me but also their peers. I like to do that to break the ice and try to get to know them alot better. This helps them connect to each other and put away their jitters.
Hi Lefteri,
Good example of the difference between a teacher and a performer. There has to be a connection between the teacher and the students or the class is going to be a long one for everyone.
Gary
You bridge the gap between instructor standing in the front of the class, and student sitting at a desk. The learning environment becomes a little more personal rather than mirroring the kind of separation that occurs between performer and audience.
Hi Silvia,
Good way to survey your students and get to know them better. As you say this way you know how to adapt your instructional delivery to meet the learning preferences of your students.
Gary
Introducing myself to the students not only gives me the opportunity to tell them who I am as a professional and a regular person. It provides me with a valuable time to briefly “scrutinize” my students’ reactions. This helps me to have an idea of who is my group at first glance (the eager to learn, the not interested, the unconvinced ones, the shy ones, the ready to start ones, etc.).
Thus, when the students introduce to the class, I can read better their types of personalities and energies, and it becomes easier for me to customize the lectures and activities, and overall provide them with an enjoyable learning environment.
As I've said in another forum, sometimes the students know as much--if not more--than I do about the subject matter. The only thing that separates us is the academic credential which I have and they don't. I learn from their introductions how much they may already know, how much experience they have, and if I can call on them to share their expertise. And it works both ways because they also learn how much I know and how much experience I have. I'm speaking from on-ground teaching experience here because when teaching online, it's a bit different because we don't use introductions. They learn about me through my autobiography and I learn about them from whatever they've shared on the class roster.
You are letting the students know about your crediblity, and you are finding out something about the students' that you may use when giving them individual instruction.
Let everyone in the class know and understand your background.
By introducing myself, I am breaking the ice with the students and assuring them that their instructor has valid education and experience which is relevant to the course. I always mention that I started off my college education with somewhat vague goals about what I wanted to do in life, but that the college experience was highly effective in helping me to become more specific in my goals and objectives.
By having the students introduce themselves, I get to know a little about the make-up of the class, and the students get to see that they are not just in with a group of strangers, and that some of their fellow students might even have similar circumstances to their own, and similar degree plans.
John Ragan
It sets a comfort level and I've also found that it helps to identify potential student conflict early. Getting to know a personal tid bit about each person also helps me to remember names. I've found that if I blank on a student's name I will always remember a detail about them. Knowing that detail and repeating it to them assures them that I recall them and they are important to me, even if thier name has slipped my mind.
I will establishing my presence, personality and professionalims. I we briefly describe who I am, where I have come from and what is important to me about the course I will be teaching. My professionalism and yes, even quirks, plus my expectations for myself and my students will be discussed.
I am able when we are finished to know the name of each student and something about each one. They are able to know something about my style and my experience.
The introduction of myself shows the students who I am and what I do. It shows them that I too have a family, another job besides teaching, and a life outside of teaching.
As far as introductions of the students, it shows me (as the teacher) what their lives consist of - full time job, family, caretaker of someone, etc. It can help me to understand their situations outside of school. It also will show me how much knowledge they have of the topic.
Hi Dennis,
This is very important because this is the only time they are going to have access to your expertise and the safety net you represent in reviewing their work and course progress. They need to take advantage of this so they are better prepared when they move out into the work world.
Gary
I try to be sure they know that my experience in professional life and as a teacher can be of value to them. I want them to view me as a resource.
I agree. There are a lot of students who are very shy or timid on the first day of class. By "forcing" them to speak, it essentially gets them pass those first moment fears. This helps them to be more comfortable and to participate more throughout the course.
Hi Justin,
I have not had this problem but I ask the students to meet one another and asks 3 things about the person. It puts the focus on them as an individual outside of just being a student in class.
By introducing myself to the students, theya re given an opportunity to know something about me. This assists in students being more comfortable in the classroom. They will have an idea of the type of person that I am. It allows students to see that you are "human" an approachable.
