We do a lot of what is mentioned already but I would like to start implementing more "Current students or graduates" in the actual orientation presentation. Also, we usually do ID's the first week of school, now I would like to do them at orientation.
We play get to know you bingo that has been a real hit. Each square ask different questions and they must find the person that possible matches up with the answer. Good way to get them talking and on their feet. Another activity that students do in career development class is go on a scavenger hunt and hava to find different items located through out the school. This is a good way for them to get to know their way around.
Bringing in an ice breaker.
I like utilizing facebook to welcome new students and get them started feeling connected to the college. I encourage students during the first couple of class periods to "like" our college on facebook so they can start tagging themselves in photos and keeping up-to-date with information.
School spirit building contests and activities.
I feel getting to know one another: like names, goals, some personal information,etc. is a great way to learn more about what students want out of the class. Students that feel a part of their school and that someone geniunely cares about them, will feel more connected to the school.
We do a first mod completion ceremony to recognize those students who completed their first module. Students are so excited to get their first recognition of success; it also serves as a motivation for the new students that are entering the program.
Kevin--
Sharing personal experiences...successes and failures...is a wonderful learning tool. Great job!
Susan
meet and greet and have present students talk to the new students about what's happening !
Connection to the college could be created by showing the value of the program. A student who sees value in the course or program will be more likely to appreciate the value. I have accomplished this through personal experiences in the field related to the subject matter. They see how knowing, or not knowing the information (related to the course) was the key to success or failure.
I would like to implement the picture into our first week of all the students together. I think that it will help serve as motivation to see themselves perhaps with a caption that says: Future Graduates.
I do several things:
We video tape and take pictures of students in class and labs in the first week.
I also have a raffle drawing for t-shirts, water bottles, memory sticks etc. in the first week.
We hand out their books and uniforms in week one as well.
Get to know your peers week. add in all the fun activities to come along with the syllabus. Have each student to introduce themselves and welcome them individually.
I tell them about myself and my qualifications so they get to know me. I ask each of them what their plans are after they graduate so they open up and start to talk and everyone gets to know each other. I am prepared for that days lessons and have back up material in case we finish early and I give out assignments for the week.
I recently implemented a group goal for the course and it seems to really bring the class together as a team. The first day of the course I challenge them to work together as a team for one common goal. Our goal is to get every student through the course with nobody failing for academic or for attendance reasons. The students actually get very excited about this and they work together and police each other for the common good. I hear them all the time telling each other things like "if you leave early today you will be close to timing out, stay and i will help you tomorrow get "....." done. They also tell each other to focus and get the information during lecture and lab time. They become self appointed mentors which helps the other students out as well as themselves as they reinforce what they have learned.
I think a ice cream social served by faculty in an outdoor setting would be beneficial which would allow the students to see the faculty as a friend/mentor type rather than just a teacher.
Perhaps we could have an open house, where we would provide refreshments, mingle with the students, and give them a chance to meet everyone in a less formal atmosphere. We could reinforce information regarding where the different departments are located, reintroduce the people that work there and their responsibilities towards the students' needs.
It would be helpful to have them bring family or friends to the open house, not just to observe them in a more social setting, but the possibility of gaining some possible referrals.
The most important aspect is that it will give us an opportunity to reinforce what was covered in Orientation and show the students that we have a personal interest in them as people, also.
In my course, study groups are optional. I only set them up if students ask to participate. I think going forward, I may set them up automatically, encourage them to reach out to one another but it will still be optional.
Perhaps a Meet and Greet with departments they don't have consistent interaction with. Their PDs and the admission staff already spend time with these new students, so bring in Student Services, Graduate Employment and the Learning Resource Center as part of the first week's meet and greet.
