Mary,
Food is good! It adds a relaxing and social component that allows people to interact at a different level.
Susan Backofen
Stephan,
Great! This gives them an opportunity to succeed and also reinforce the information.
Susan Backofen
The goal on first day of class is to get all the "preliminaries" out of the way to take advantage of this golden time to start learning.
We only have so many class hours in the quarter.
These students are paying for every hour. We will not learn all there is to know about this subject. Why prolong the anxiety? It is silly to do an ice breaker acitivity next week. We can include a pretest to find what each student knows already.
I think an Ice Cream Social on the Friday of the first week would be nice, or even handing out ice cream bars at the end of class on that Friday would create some good feelings and a sense of camraderie. We do have a popcorn machine and on Fridays it is in the Library so students can have a snack on their way in or out.
I like the idea of a sharing of reasons in school. I also like the idea of a support board - students asking each other for support, rides, etc.
Dewayne,
I agree. Food is always effective and provides an informal setting, and small groups assist in buildig relationships with their peers.
Susan Backofen
Amy,
This sounds like a great plan. Do you have a specific exercise that you have found successful?
Susan Backofen
I actually give an easy "Introductory Quiz" before the end of the first day of class. I ask them questions such as "What is the buiding and room # of the class; "What day is their first exam?"; "How many days do you have to make-up an exam?"; etc. This encourages them to pay attention to what is discussed regarding the syllabus, course outline, and reinforces the expectation that they have to stay until the end of the class period to take the quiz.
I normally introduce myself to my students in reference to my educational background, professional work experience and hobbies. I require them to do the same in return. I think that the first week would be enhanced by providing refreshments and incorporating small group discussions.
I feel that an activity that quizes the students about all necessary information for success, set in the format of an interactive game. Rewards for reatined information should be given to all as a group, even though some may have recalled more info than others. Those that needed more help can be influenced by the others that exemplified professinal behavior.
Richard,
Great idea. The 'big brother/sister' idea is a great opportunities for them to acclimate quickly and get to know the resources at the institution.
Susan Backofen
I would offer assigning each new student a "big brother/big sister" attending student to alleviate any negative potential obstacles or frustrations that the new student may experience during the first week. In addition, I would encourage any "support" groups that the new student may have such as parents,spouses,relatives,etc. to visit the school,or class,in order to ensure that the new student is not being given negative reinforcements during the crucial first week.
Establishing a "late enrollment" orientation--including meeting folks from the various functional areas-- I really like the idea of a tag team approach where admissions handles non-academic groups and academics handles the meet the faculty, academic administration, student ambassador mentoring...
I like the idea of making it more social and involving food. A lunch or snack break during the first week is a good way to build connectivity between students and with faculty and the school as a whole. If students get a chance to interact with each other and faculty in a less stressful way this could make the entire experience at school less stressful as a whole.
Student Services Advisors visit every classroom during the first week to remind students of opportunities to get involved on campus and resources available if needed. This also reminds students that they have an advocate on campus and that they can go to this person anytime needed.
I like to always start by giving them something that they will use throughout their course with me - for example, a composition book. I also like to find out where the students come from and what made them take this particular course, its so nice to see how everyone just starts to talk to one another and beging to feel more comfortable.
I am a fairly discouraged teacher as far as some of these things go. When I first started there was also a new Director of Education and the school was really enforcing a lot of strict rules. My students are the brand new students, I am their first introduction to the program. I talked with the students about the possibility of having a little potluck at the end of the first week of class only to have this squash by the Ed. Director as there was no eating in class. I thought that reponse was short sighted but in some ways I think my institution is always managing expectations so they are at the lowest level, in other words, if it doesn't directly add profit to the bottom line than you can expect that it isn't allowed.
This is the time to get a class orientation out of the way. We clearly define the objectives of the course. Go through the syllabus, and sign that we understand. After this paper work is through it is time for introductions. Each student gets to tell a brief biography on themselves. We form team groups. This way the members already feel they have an investment in the course. The groups exchange numbers and are given a fun group assignment to present the following week. Not anything too stressful, just an ice breaker.
Heather King
During the first week it is important just to get to know all of the students and to make sure they have someone to talk with about any concerns or obstacles they may still be facing. Our school has begun a mentor program that seems to be helpful. Each participating faculty member has a few students they mentor, which means weekly phone calls throughout the first couple of months, invitations to meet in person, and emails to check in on how they are doing and to keep asking whether they have any questions.
Being Provisional students for the first four weeks for new students, we make sure we are in contact with them often and especially so when they miss a class. So, with that, ensuring their understanding of their status is part of my goal to retain them and keep them motivated not just the first four weeks but all of the twelve weeks. Academics work closely with Career Services to maximize the opportunities we have to make the connection lines open and easy for the (new) students to understand the policies. We have Grad Preps, exciting pop in visits from the management team in most classes and certainly in Career Development classes.
