Lorraine,
I like to use learning communities for case studies and problem solving. Your efforts to establish a classroom community are right on and I know they will yield good results for your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am forming a classroom community and learning about the ways in which I can connect with my students and ways they can connect with one another. I try to elicit information that allows me to see how each can make a contribution to the community.
Damona,
Thank you for sharing this ice breaker with us. Sounds like a fun one that gets everyone involved. I am always looking for additional ice breakers I can use because they are such a great way to start off a new course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have adapted a game I played at a single's retreat where a person has to go to someone else in the room and find something in common. There is a paper with a list of common things like "find someone who has snow boarded, somone who uses the same tooth paste as you, someone who has an older brother, etc..." these are great ice breakers and students seem to enjoy the interaction and it helps them to learn their peers. It helps me to learn something about them as well, I am able to find the shy students as well as those who are outgoing. I am also able to learn a little about the students, their hobbies, and the things they like.
Jeanie,
You are sending so many signals to your students with your different activities and methods that show them that you are the learning leader. You are instilling in them a sense of confidence that will help them to see the value of the course and how it applies to their career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Judith,
This is a good way to help get students settled into the course and feeling comfortable with you as their instructor.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
By introducing myself I have the opportunity to share with students how my experience in the industry is relevant to their learning and career goals. Always by being friendly and approachable set them at ease and makes me more human. By writing my name and Course on white board establishes me as leader and tell them they are in the right place which will help set them at ease.
By having them introduce themselves gives me an opportunity to learn their names and ensure I am pronouncing them correctly. By having them share something about themselves will allow me to connect with them on a personal level.
When you introduce yourself to the students it makes them see that you are just like them in many aspects. It gives all a sence of equal.
Tammy,
The more you know about them the easier it is to customize your style to match your current group of students. This will increase their engagement and focus while enhancing the value they associate with the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Learning about my students and what motivates them. So that I can know how to direct my teaching and what will keep them interested and make them want to come to class and learn and retain the information that they receive
Melannie,
I like the way you outline your own past in relation to the fact that you really wanted your education and as a result you did what it took to get it. I try to follow the same model in terms of letting them know that excuses are excuses and they do not move a person any closer to his or her career goal. I understand there are situations with sick kids, etc. and I factor that in when working with the students but the overall goal must always remain "success". I tell my students that their past may explain them but it does have to define them. I am only interested in helping them now and not hearing about the past. I try to keep them forward focused throughout the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The students get to see that the instructor is a human being and has gone through a lot of the same things they have. One of the biggest things I do explain that I have worked through much of my schooling, often working two to three jobs. I explain that sometimes this means you work long days, stay up late, and have to put forth extra effort. I tell them that they have taken the first step and they should be proud they are in school, but they have to continue to work harder, if not harder, now that they are here.
I have students who take the bus a lot or have a job and use that as an excuse why they are late or why they should get leeway. I explain that I took a bus 2 hours one way and would ALWAYS make it on time for class. I try to dismiss the excuses early, so they know it won't work and spend more time in class and less avoiding it.
By introducing the students to each other, they get a chance to see that they are in the same boat as others and find out who they can work with to help learn. I would say about 75% of the class have kids, so if they try to use that as an excuse, other students will tell them it doesn't work either.
Laura,
Good way to establish yourself as the learning leader. You are creating the framework for how the course is going to operate and the beginning of the development of respect.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Makes my students see me as more relevant, shows them I have a background in the material that I am teaching & that I am a real person
Abigail,
Life facts like you mention are very important to know about students. A simple comment about something like a baseball game can do a lot to earn student respect and start the development of rapport.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is an easy way to start building relationships. For instance, if I know "Johnny" is on the baseball team, I can congratulate them on their recent win or talk about their upcoming game, etc.
Andrea,
Yes, students are very interested in the experiences their instructors have had. You are evidence of what a career person should be like and you get to model that for your students. So feel free to share stories and examples throughout your course when a story and topic match.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Michael,
Great idea! I would think this is a lot of fun, fast paced and gets everyone talking. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Brady,
Good advice for instructors to follow. Have fun, get the students settled and be yourself. This forms a good foundation for the upcoming course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Being a new instructor, I was surprised when the students were generally interested in my education and experiences as a nurse. I realized that they want to know they have an instructor they can learn from who has a variety of knowledge to teach them.
