I agree with you Mazen. It is necessary to show the students that you are there to help them. Specially when the subject is like a nightmare for them.
You gain respect and students are comfort when they feel that they have a caring and competent instructor.
DONNA,
In what way does it set the tone for the rest of the course. Can you share some examples with us?
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
It sets the tone for the rest of the course.
This is what we remember most about everyone--the first time we saw them.
Martha Moore
Nathaniel,
I like where you are coming from. We are models for our profession and we cannot let our standards slip. To do so is to cheat the students of the true value of our courses.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
It is important for students to form a positive first impression of you because it gives them confidence in your abilities as a leader to successfully guide them through the learning process. It also helps to foster positive student teacher relationships so they feel comfortable to participate in class discussions or ask questions if they are not clear on a subject and know that you care about their progress and comfort level as being part of the class as well as being supportive of their future career interests.
Being you are the prime example of what a professional is the standard is very high. When you show them anything else other than the best, you as the instructor have failed that student. For myself, failure is not an option point blank.
Ali,
All of these activities blend together to help the students get settled into the course. The first day, as you know is so important, and you are helping them find a comfort level within the class.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
The first day of class is a very important time for faculty to establish a tone for what will happen the rest of the term. It is appropriate that a teacher reflect on just what climate and first impression she/he would like to establish. Opening communications among students as well as between me and my students will pay dividends throughout the semester. One of the exercises which I do for an “icebreakers" I ask each person introduce themselves and give some information about them self-such as hometown, field of study, why they took the course, what they did this summer, etc.
It sets the tone. First impressions are lasting ones.
Just like in life, a first impression is a lasting one. In oter words, the first impression forms the students' perception of you. It's much easier to present a good first impression than to have to clean up a horrible first impression. You can gain trust and respect on the front end with a good first impression.
It sets the tone for the whole course. If you are late, unorganized or unprofessional,It is very hard to get students to look past that. You have to always start off on the right foot, clear expectations and positive attitudes. Preparation is the key. You can never be over prepared.
We set standards on the first day of class. We need to show our students, 1)we are knowledgable; 2) we are fun and firm; 3)we are professional but still casual enough to be inviting.
We are their professional role models and we need to act like it. We should never assume our students know how to act, speak, communicate, etc. It is hard for me to do, not assume these things, but I do have to take a step outside the box and see the big picture.
Class isn't just a place to learn the required skills; it is also a place to learn to communicate, be professional and speak with ease.
I always start class with a welcome and a smile. I have the students make name tag tents to place in front of them so I may learn their names quickly. It shows I take an interested in building a positive rapport. They are not just a student, but my student. Also, I asked them what is their area of study and make attempts to explain how math can enhance their performance in that field.
Sandra,
So true. You can continue to build on this first impression throughout the course and earn the respect of the students as well.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Cynthia,
Good points about how to establish yourself as a the educational leader in your classroom. The blend of being the leader and expert sets up the understanding that you have a lot to offer the class if they are willing to invest the time and effort to get the content. You are showing your human side as well which is always important in situations like this.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
By making a positive first impression it sets the tone for the rest of the semester that you will be teaching.
The old saying "what you see is what you get" can make a lasting first impression. Along these lines, I feel it is very important for the instructor to present themselves in a positive light to the students for the first classroom encounter with the students. This would include being in the classroom early, making sure everything is ready, how you dress, your demeanor when greeting the students and trying to get to know their names. When giving background information about yourself you want to be a real person not a stuffed shirt and you want the students to feel they can relate to you as a person, an experienced business person and as an instructor.
Laura,
They certainly are and this is why it is so important to make sure those impressions are positive so you can build on them rather than trying to correct them.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
