Get Your Students Hired
Keondra,
So true in terms of building a solid foundation for the course to build upon. This is why we need to plan carefully for our first class meeting.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A positive first impression is of great importance when starting a new class, mostly because it sets the standards in which your students view you. If you come in the classroom, right as it is starting in a hurry and look sloppy. The students will not validate your professionalism and think that they have nothing to learn from you, because you do not take pride in your profession or field. Students observe and mimic our behavior. Having a poor first impression belittles the instructor in the eyes of the student and make cause the development of a negative instructor-student relationship as well a poor learning environment.
Positive first impressions are the most lasting impressions. If a positive attitude ans professional appearance provide students with a good role model.
I feel the students have a positive impression of their instructor and a welcoming impression.
Aldo,
Right you are about the value of a positive first impression. It is the foundation upon which the rest of the course is built.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
A positive first impression is a key for students to also feel secure knowing they have a great instructor and will also help students feel less nervous. A bad impression will have your students questioning your methods that you bring
I believe you cannot change anyone's first impression. If you do not start off with a positive first impression, that will set the tone for the rest of the learning time & the student will be the one that twill suffer because of not being positive.
Making a positive first impression is important when starting a new class. It allows for you as the instructor, and the students in your course to get off on the right foot. People never forget a first impression. You are going to be spending a lot of time with your students and you want them to understand who you are as a person outside of being an instructor. With a positive first impression you are also making yourself approachable and available to students who may need help later on in the semester or term.
If we do not present ourselves in a manner that gives the students a positive first impression of us, we are setting up our class so that the students will be in control. The first class will set the pace for the rest of the course.
During the first class, there may be students who try to challenge the instructor. These students are the ones that are used to being in-charge and they typically want the other students to know it. If we back down from these challenging students, the other students may feel that we are not the authority on the topic. On the flip side though, if we come across too strict we may drive students away thinking that they won't be able to meet our standards.
Good instructors are able to find the right mix of letting students control portions of class and keeping class under control.
In the kitchen/lab setting that I teach in, it is very important that I present a confident and strong personality to lead the kitchen. I give a detailed tour of the kitchen to familiarize them with the lab and then give them a group activity to help them settle in. I then speak to them as a group and have them introduce themselves.
As the saying go you only have 1 first impression,
it needs to be positive. So you will relax you students and the will know what to expect. And this will give a better attitude towards you knowing you are not going to be that hard a..,
I think it sets the tone for the whole term and your success with your class and respect from your students. Gives the students a positive attitude with starting their new course and their new instructor.
You only get one first impression. It is important to appear approachable, professional, and relatable to the students. I want my students to feel comfortable approaching me with any issues be it school or personal. That philosophy is a staple I hope I never lose.
LaTanya,
So true because as a result of the positive first impression you are established as the learning leader and then it builds from there. This is how respect is earned and rapport developed.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Creating a positive first impression is an excellent opportunity to engage students. It provides an atmosphere of "confidence", shows leadership in the classroom.
When you make a positive first impression on day one, you grasp the students of your students and gain control of your classroom. When students see a confident instructor with everything organized and well laid out it gives them comfort in knowing the class will be ok.
Kathleen,
Good strategy to follow with your students. This way they know your are going to be consistent with your expectations and they can plan their effort to give them course success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
What I have also found is that you have to remain steadfast in your expectations as well, since students pick up on any shift in your consistency with set standards. I am always pleased with the attendance I get in my classes each day/course. Students know that I briefly review skills/points from the last session and I make it a point to ask each student a question and then if they cannot answer it, I ask another student to provide the answer instead of me doing so.
Indira,
Right you are and this is why it needs to be planned well so the students will see that they are going to have a good experience with their instructor.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
One just can't restart after a poor impression, so that first day is the courtship of your new relationship. All of your talents need to be upfront, to persuade, to elaborate, and explain yourself and your intentions to the participants in the class. The material is usually tough by itself, so my goal is to impress the class that i am a resource for them, and can guide them even if it seems insurmountable. I am there to break open the subject and make the parts digestible, more reasonable, and light up their natural learning and curiosity, all of which can be coached. My favorite example is the movie about the inner city kids being taught calculus, that is inspiration at its best.