Hi Yonne,
You are a great example for and to your students. You have been where they are so they know you understand their situations and struggles. This gives you a level of respect that will help you to keep them engaged and making progress toward their career goals.
Gary
I have been in this situation myself, going back to school after 20 years. Feeling accepted by my instructor and peers gave me inspiration and eagerness to work hard to be successful. I think most people feel this way. Instructors should consider this an important factor.
Feeling accepted is vital. It draws the student into the class and the discussions. It makes the class more enjoyable and relelvant for the student as opposed to feeling like they do not fit in.
Hi Theresa,
Good point about instructor attitude and conduct. Also, setting the stage for the course is important just as you say. You are establishing a climate for the course with what you say the first day. The students need to be able to feel comfortable and get settled in so the rest of the course can be a building experience.
Gary
Students need to feel accepted in classes to reach a comfort level that will correspond with their success in each course. Students have to feel accepted to open up and offer input or even feel comfortable to simply ask questions. Obviously a student won't ask for information if they don't feel accepted in class and feel emarrassed if they speak up. This would hinder success if they need guidance in a certain area, but are not comfortable enough to ask for the help.
WHEN I START THE CLASS THE FIRST THING I DO IS ASK THE STUDENTS TO INTRODUCE THEMSELF AND WHAT MOTIVATE THEM TO COME TO SCHOOL AND WHAT IS THEIR GOAL AND AFTER THAT I INTRODUCE MY SELF TO THEM AND WHAT INSPIRED ME AND SO FORTH AND MY EXPERIENCES TO MOTIVATE THEM TO BE GOOD IN CLASS.
It is important for students to feel accepted in class because it will them more self confidence. They wil be more willing to be involved, answer questions and work with others. The more involvement they have will help them in decision making and with their ability to work with others.
Student acceptance is results in greater levels of comfort and equally greater motivation. Two obvious factors that will contribute to the success of the student in reaching their goals.
It appears many instructors use the first day of class to get students acquainted with each other. I also use an introduction activity and find that it helps to set up an open and supportive learning environment. Quickly learning student names and using them to address students demonstrates instructor interest and concern. I do believe the greatest impact on creating a supportive environment is the way an instructor reacts and replies to student questions and comments. A condescending look and sarcastic comment can quiet an entire classroom for the remainder of the term.
I feel it engages them and facilitates a comfortable environment for learning
I do the same. The students quickly feel involved and more in control of their expectations.
Hi Donald,
Good point. It is true we all like to feel accepted and that we have the respect of the person in charge. This helps the students to see the value of what is being taught.
Gary
Yes. No one likes that feeling of being a out cast. When a student signs up for a class they want that felling of being accepted.
because they feel cared by their instructors and also their instructors care for the success and academic progress
Hi Norman,
Thank you for this excellent profile of how professionalism not age is the true factor in teaching success. Also, your willingness to keep up with technology is an asset in working with the younger students as you say. Keep up the good work and I wish you many more years of teaching success.
Gary
Dr. Meers,
I have found that being 65 (and being older than all my students thus far) gives my older students a sense that I understand what they are up against as they feel their age is a disadvantage. I feel I can serve as a role model that being older does not mean being slower or being less capable of learning new things. It has helped in overcoming the old urban myth: "You cannot teach an old dog new tricks!"
I have been able to work with these students as a peer in age rather than as one generation removed.
The interesting thing is that by keeping up with what is going on with some of the younger students (especially the technology), I find they are not alienated by me age. I think part of this is my expectation that they want to be treated as adults and I expect them to behave as adults. I am not there to coddle them or embarass them.
Hi Salenna,
True. Students need to have a sense of comfort about the class. If they know they have the respect and support of the instructor they can work on relationships with other students to the benefit of all.
Gary
It is important for students to feel accepted in classes because the student may be wondering what thier peers think of them and as instructors we should make them feel like they matter. They may also have social fears so we should give them group projects but individual assignments within the groups.
Prior to starting in a clinical setting,I have the students complete a small questionnaire about their expectations, interests and fears. I provide individual journals for the students to write about their thoughts, feelings and clinical experiences. I respond in writing to each entry. At the end of a clinical rotation, I have students give feedback on the experience as well as my instruction. This allows me to reevaluate clinical placements and myself.
In my classes, students need to feel accepted and as though they are part of community. They feel free to take risks and express themselves. They feel a responsibility for their learning and to the group as a whole and take the other members’ needs and feelings into account before they act. Most of the time they are very involved in their work, are seldom bored, and become increasingly confident at persisting in the face of difficult work. The more they learn the more they grow in a sense of personal empowerment. They grow to love learning for its own sake and have little need for prizes, rewards or incentives. These Students do not see themselves in competition with other students, or feel a need to be better than others, so they find it easy to be encouraging to one another. They see learning as a journey and encourage their classmates’ success along with their own. In a perfect world anyways
