Getting to know your students
I found that sharing my experiences as an ice breaker helps student to open up and share about there experiences and interest. This gives me a way to connect with the students and understand where they are coming from better.
On the first day of class, especially with new students, I believe its essential to discuss some of my professional experiences with my class. While things like the syllabus and grading are important to all, I've always experienced a connection with students when I discuss my background that led to teaching. It always seems to open the dialogue on that critical first day.
I ALWAYS BRING UP MY EXPERIENCES. a IT KEEPS THEM INTERESTED AND b IT MIGHT HELP THEM IF THEY GET IN THE SAME SITUATION.
sharing personal experiences is definitely a good way to build a good student/teacher relationship. I find that my students open up to me more and are more comfortable asking questions. My problem with this is, after a few weeks some of the student gets to comfortable and act like we are friends. What do you do in this situation?
Kimberly,
I agree. It is important for instructors to keep a few interesting, topic-related examples or questions available for the lecture, just in case the students seem disinterested.
Tremayne Simpson
For the subject that I teach, I find that sharing real world experiences with students is an excellent way to engage them and also help prepare them for scenarios and experiences that a classroom setting cannot teach them.... If students seem disinterested in the material for the day, real life stories seem to return their focus.
In my field, students always want to know what I've done in the past so I believe that this is a great way to bond with students.
Carlos,
I agree. In addition, an instructor's experiences can serve as positive motivators for their students.
Tremayne Simpson
Sharing experiences with students is a very good way of getting students involved at the same time it helps to improve the student to teacher relationship. The students see that you are approachable and sometimes sharing your experiences can help boost their confidence in regards to passing the course.
I use this method especially when introducing new ingredients to my culinary students. I share my memories of the ingredient as a way to help my students open up and share their own experiences.
Not yet, but there are some that I am really hoping that do. It really takes a special type of person to be a good nurse. Not everyone is cut out for it. Unfortunately, many never realize it.
Ted,
Thank you for sharing this post. I'm curious...do you ever have students that begin to "rethink" their major/focus, once they have heard about some of the realities of the nursing career?
Tremayne Simpson
My beginning nursing students really seem to enjoy me telling them of some of my experiences in the ER and ICU. I share with them what life is really like working in the acute/critical care environment and encourage them to think about how they would handle a similar situation. It seems the more gory and horrible the situation, the more they enjoy it.
We usually discuss our likes with our neighbor and then read to the class.
Traci,
This is a great suggestion. This will also provide the student with a "classroom acquaintance" and it gives them an opportunity to get to know their fellow classmates.
Tremayne Simpson
I agree that sharing some personal background can help break the ice with students and help you appear as more approachable. We have students interview one another using a standard form for questioning and then present information they have gathered about that student to the class. This helps us as instructors also get to know our students so we can get a better understanding of where they are coming from individually in a non-threatening, fun way.
I also share my experiences with students. I tell them about my background and how it has changed from working in manufacturing to going back to school and now being involved in the medical field. I think by sharing my background lets the student see me as being a normal person.
I'm often a bit apprehensive about talking about myself; however, as a nursing instrucvtor, I always tell a little about my background as a nurse, which hospitals and departments I've worked, and how long I've been teaching.
Kimberly,
This is an effective method for getting to know your students. I have used surveys, that ask for the similar information from my students. I have noticed that they are quite impressed, when you can remember their individual interests, in conversation.
Tremayne Simpson
I had my students fill out cards about themselves - what they bring to the profession they are now studying, what their goals are. The cards helped me quickly put names to faces, engage the students and also get an idea of learning styles and interests. This helped me quickly put together lesson plans for that class using the standard materials.
