Setting the ground work for the rest of the class
If you show your glad they are there and you really want to help the be sucessful and show an interest in them you are off to a great start.
I don't mean you let them run the class but with a plan to help them get started on the right path you are going to be someone the students can relate to and feel they can come to you for help.
Have a plan to involve them in the class.
I agree withyour comments 100% I teach term 2 and I review the policy and procedures as well as ourse expectations. I make it a point to be in the classroom about ten minutes before class and stay after until the last student leaves. I have found that the students do want a structured enviroment and I believe this improves the student/instructor relationship.
Billy,
I think that sometimes we over look the very simple and easy things to do that makes students feel more comfortable and welcome. Your meet and great at the beginning of class is an excellent example!
Susan Backofen
Hello,
I would agree with what you are saying. I like to set the ground rules on the first day of class and at the same time make sure the students understand that I am here for them, and to feel free to ask for help when they need it.
At the beginning of class for the day I stand at my door to do a meet and greet with the students as they inter the class room to let them know that I am glad to see they where able to make it to class and give them a welcome felling on the way in. this helps the student feel welcome and more comfortable in the class.
If your students know that you are motivated then they will pick up on that. They too will become motivated. If they feel that they are invoolved in the class then they are less likely to drop.
I tried letting the students be involved with the layout of the class and in theory it seemed good. The problem was a syllibus sent down from up above, and class rules designed to keep order in the classroom. The students wanted to add things like:
Use of cell phones whenever they wanted.
The ability to walk about the room and in and out at any time.
I find these things disrespectful to myself and the other students and not something I could allow.
Suggestions?
Students can be very impressionable and you being excited for them can make all the difference in them being successful.
If the students that are there for the first day of class see how important it is to you that they are there, it makes an impression on them. If they see you want to be there and love your job ( excited about the class )and you want to give them all the information that your life experence as a tech has given you, it makes a difference.
getting the student excited about the career they are going to school for.seems to work well about getting their attention for s.o.p's.
Good idea. Letting students be part of the class is essential to having students come back. Letting them know that what they learn they will use outside the class and in the workplace.
Agreed! Letting the class have a part in the layout of the class and learning methods is a great way to encourage retention.
This is a great idea. In your example the student has control of their learning and due to active learning, are building a buy-in to academic success. Great idea! Your suggestion could work for any class.
I've always found with my experience teaching that the more you involve students, the more receptive they are to learning. The class has to be about "them", and then they will tune in. How are they being affected by what you are saying. Most of my examples in class are used based on a students experience. This way, the student is in engaged in the conversation. Participation is addicting, if one student is in tune, chances are you have good momentum.
