The Human Factor
I always attempt to get to know my students on the first day of class. This way I will be in touch with their personalities and needs throughout the course. I also make it known that I am approachable and available to them.
Hi DeAnn,
Good strategy for remembering the names of students. The flair part really gives you memory triggers for their names as well as letting them make their name tents personal. A little touch but important to the students.
Gary
I agree 100%. I use a good portion of the first class to "get to know" each student. I also ask them to make "tent-cards" with their name and I give them 5 minutes to put some flair on their tent cards. I am horrible at remembering names - so this helps me for the first few classes and their "flair" helps them show a side of themselves to me and to the rest of the students.
Hi Mark,
Good idea. The human factor mixed into the instructional process really helps to make the content come alive for students as well as engage them in learning progress.
Gary
I sometimes forget that, even though I am teaching late in the evening, students can be engaged, and they need a human instructor presenting the material in a lively manner. Not easy to do after, unless there is a focus on the human factor, rather than just the course material. I am posting a note on my desk ("Human Factor"), and trying to bring the environmental science topics closer to home, on an individual student basis.
Hi Herb,
Good point about needing to make students comfortable in the class and feel accepted. If they have had a negative experience in previous settings it becomes harder. What are some ways you help your students with such experiences to feel accepted in your course?
Gary
Yes this is so true, specifically students that may have had negative experiences in prior learning.
Hi William,
This is so important to our professional development. By you spending a few minutes with such students you are showing that you still care about their career success. They will carry this with them for their entire careers.
Gary
I have been teaching intro Accounting at the same campus for over 6 years. I am continually running into my 'old' students in the hallways etc. I always take the time to spend a few minutes catching up with them. My 'new' students see this and it has made them realize that I am approachable and care.
I have a first-day exercise that asks students to email me something that makes me laugh, with a disclaimer that I "cannot be offended". (Of course, the reverse is not true!)
This helps me get to know the student, and often starts a dialog that establishes a connection with the student.
John
Hi Gilbert,
It is always good to hear stories about instructors that reflect a high standard of professionalism. Thank you for sharing this example.
Gary
Yes. I was conducting a classroom observation the other evening and the instructor was able to create an environment that was very caring and safe. I noticed that in two separate occasions, she stopped her instruction and greeted students who walked into her class late. She was definitely incorporating the Human Factor to assist her in successfully creating the right learning environment. After class, I spoke to a few of her students and they were all very fond of their instructor and the class.
Hi Keith,
Good comments and so true. When rapport is there and respect from both the instructor and the students then learning can be enhanced. We need to work on making this a part of our operation each day we are with our students.
Gary
I can not tell you what a difference it makes in the class when the student feels they have connected with the instructor or visa-versa. When an instructor talks to a student as if he has known them for years or asks questions to find out what the student interests are, the student feels like this guys is OK and I want to be in his class. The student becomes open to you because you have become open to them. This turns the class into a learning zone.
