Donna,
This is an essential part of being an educator. If you are not perceived as being approachable your students will not have the level of respect or rapport with you that is beneficial for a positive learning environment.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also think that coming across as approachable (without compromising your authority)is important to the student. It humanizes you, and may even make it easier for them to ask questions and participate more than they might otherwise.
Jerry,
I think this is a good way to manage a class. You are the learning leader and you need to make sure your students understand how the course is going to operate but also share with them some humor and laughs.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jerry,
You are being a role model for your students through your approach. You are demonstrating your instructional abilities as well as your human side. This is a nice blend that encourages student engagement. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree strongly with this idea. While I use a lot of humor at the start of any course to make the students less anxious, I also am very strict about the rules that keep the course moving in the right direction, especially rules concerning respecting other students in the room and respecting the classroom itself.
I have a very commanding presence in the room because of my years of experience in the field I teach and the need to inspire confidence in the work I perform. This presence causes some students to be shy and not participate in classroom discussions as much or asks questions. I try to mitigate this problem by starting the class with some humor, creating a relaxed environment in which student participation increases. My main objective in doing this is to make the classroom a place that students like to come to before delving into the difficulties of the material we must cover.
Kanidrus,
Building on a positive first impression is so important to the rest of the class sessions. The students should feel comfortable and excited about the upcoming class and the first class session sets the tone for that.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Your first impression is very important. This will set the tone for the class and determine how the class will flow.
Kanidrus
Jason,
Right you are so we need to "nail" our class opening so we are building on a positive foundation from which to operate.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Humans have the animalistic ability to "size up" another human when first meeting them. As the instructor, you need to assert dominance in the classroom as well as confidence. How you serve yourself during the first 10 minutes determines what your students perceieve you as there forward. This carries across all education levels. From little kids to adult learners, all humans analyze instructors at first sight.
Micheal,
Not sure of your statement. Can you expand on this to help my understanding? Thanks.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
If you need to be strict and hard the first day
would thatb send the tone in that direction
Regina,
A good first impression is a great foundation upon which to build the next steps of the course. A level of confidence comes out of a positive first impression and everyone (both students and instructor) can move forward.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A first impression means a great deal when starting a new class. This will help the student with a level of comfortablity with the class and give them a sense of what the can expect form the course and you as an instructor. You want to help them to see that this course is going to give them the knowledge that they need to success in the school as well as in life.
Christy,
This is what "owning" the class should be about. You are engaging your students from all different positions and with the hands on activities you are getting them engaged. A win win for everyone.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also move around the class, I can not stand to just sit at the desk and lecture. I like to do hands on activities with my students and I feel like that alone keeps them focused.
James,
I agree. Building on a positive first impression is so much easier than digging out of a negative hole throughout the course session.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Ann,
You are owning the classroom this way and this is an important part of being the learning leader. Thanks for making this point.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Ann,
Good point and one that we need to keep in the front of our minds at all times. We need to model the professionalism of both our career and of teaching. This sets the example our students need as they mature in the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe it sets the entire course and how the students will relate to your future presentations
