As an educator in a largely asynchronous environment, I find the telephone to be an invaluable tool in building relationships and establishing that "human touch" that many students need to thrive. Early on I took out a toll-free number so that my students would feel free of financial constraints to call and published and advertised my number in all common areas of the classroom, and tagged it to the end of each of my grading comments. I also encourage students to instant message one another and to develop a web of support that could outlast the class and the degree itself.
The most important strategy is to remember students names.(This can be extremely difficult in large settings). Noticing things about the student are important like: when a student misses class ask about their welfare. Allow students to assist with decision making(I use polls many times to extend a due date if needed for the entire class based on poll results).
Amy Branch
I think that to make a student feel part of the class you need to have them participate in class. Many students try to find the seat in the back of the classroom. These students then do everything they can to avoid being part of the class. These students are the ones that need to be brought up to the front of the room and called upon. If a student never participates they can never truly be part of the class.
Learn their names quickly! At one of the places I teach, I provided with a roster with student pictures on it before class starts, so I try and learn their names before the first class. Learn what they want to be called, not just the name listed on the roster. Greet your students in a friendly manner every day.
I find it is also important to demonstrate that you are paying attention to what they are saying, as well as the specific assignments they are turning in, by letting them know when they make good points during discussion, agreeing with those points and asking follow-up questions, providing regular feedback, etc--this all lets them know that you see them as individuals. Acknowledging their individual progress makes the educational experience more personal, and makes students more engaged as a result.
Encourage class participation. Learn students names and say them when interacting with them. In the online environment you can use email and IM communications to encourage them. You can also create discussion boards to get students to be a part of the class.
I try to include some group work in my classes that allows students to interact with eachother to get work done. I believe that this bonds the students together and allows them to get to know eachother.
I also try to have discussions with students personally about their current life situations, families, part-time jobs, etc. I am interested in the other parts of their lives besides school and I want to get to know them as people, not just students.
I make sure that I know students names. Then when they answer a question I use their name in some way i.e. "so and so made a good point". I also greet students by name as they walk into class and personally hand back papers/assignments so the student sees that I know who they are.
Students feeling "part of" is extremely important to their success in the course. I like to do a sort of "meet and greet" the first day of class after all the preliminaries are done. Having students play a game where they rely on one another for the answers is a good way to break the ice. The classroom shouldnt be an intimidating experience, each student should feel like its "their class".... we are in it together.
I ask appropraite personal questions befor class begins so they know I care about them as humans.
By learning their names, the instructor shows respect and confirms their identity in the class. Meeting the students as they enter the classroom also provides for an opportunity to interact on an individual basis. Learning a little about each student allows the instructor to draw from each student's background and life experience.
I try to find some of their own experiences that they are willing to share.
greet the student as they walk into the classroom
Hi Lora,
Thank you for sharing your experience with this activity. Sounds like everyone benefited from the exercise. You comments will be of value to other new instructors.
Gary
I got all class members involved by putting to use an idea expressed in an ED101 forum: playing "musical chairs" in note taking. Each student ends up being responsible for taking someone else's notes. Every 10 or 15 minutes the students switched seats and moved on to a new notebook - some responsibility there. When class was over one student remarked that he had enjoyed, on top of it all, seeing other people's penmanship - he found that fascinating. I found something else very interesting: as the students changed seats to start note taking on a new notebook, the layout of the classroom changed as well - the switch in seating of people had an effect on ME - I was looking at the individuals in the class differently.
I feel that a good way to bring students in and make them feel a part of a class is to encourage student involvement. As part of adult learning theory it is important for students to have a higher level of by-in into the course and how they meet course objectives. One possible way to do this is by allowing students to on occasion choose methods for meeting learning objectives by giving them a choice in assignments to complete.
Hi Marion,
This is a really good "wrap around" way of reinforcing the instruction that has occurred throughout the class session. They get to become engaged through the ice breakers and then internalize the information through the different strategies you are using.
Gary
I usually start the course with a variety of ice breakers. Later, I ask specific students to facilitate specific activities in the problem solution process. Then, I ask other specific students to review, comment on, or to critique the solution we have developed thus far.
I agree with this fully. I was one of the very quit types but in all realty. If I made to be involved I would have done much better and it would have been a fun experence. I have tride to emplement several types of ways to have all my students be involved
Hi Michael,
Good advice for all instructors. We need to make sure we involve and include all students, even those that aren't as outspoken as others.
Gary
Everyone gets a turn to shine. Don't call on those same 3 or 4 students who are willing and able to answer all of the questions. Find ways to engage the students who don't like to respond to questions in class,. such as highlighting their group work contributions or having them facilitate a discussion.
