The Whole Picture
In order to educate students, the students need to feel welcome and comfortable in their surroundings. They need to know that the school, staff and faculty like them as individuals. They also need to know their are rules that need to be followed.
I agree. Maturity is what I look for in my students and you can pretty much tell that after about the first week. It won't take much for a mature student to feel welcome and comfortable if they are treated with respect.They will know that the school, staff and faculty like them as individuals. Student that are not quite there maturity wise will need more help in feeling comfortable and welcome. The same rules will apply no matter what.
It's got to be a bit of both.
My typical first day begins with a discussion of why the students are there, what their goals are, and how the particular class will help them get there. Then, because I've usually got a room full of first-day college students, we talk about how college is different from high school and/or what the demands are. This leads into "the rules." And we wrap things up with some kind of icebreaker (something fun) and a brief first lesson.
If the first day is all fun and no rules, it will create a false expectation of laxness that could set students up for failure when their met with serious challenges.
Donald,
Some retention guides recommend starting the term with something exciting and fin, leaving the "rules" for later.
Jeffrey Schillinger
We start off the first day of class going over the rules and let them that we try to raise the bar high in order to create the best possible student. We inform the student that we as instructors are held to the same standards of professionalism that they are held to and that there is an entire network of people that are here to help them acheive there educational objectives.
I personally like to greet each student when they come in the class for the first time, this gives me the opportunity to place a face with the nameand let them know that I look forward to helping them reach their educational goals.
I try to completely remove the like and dislike. I want my students to know that I'm here for their best education wether I like them or not. It's never personal.
