A positive first impression is important for making students feel confident that the course will be conducted in an organized and professional way. It sets the stage for the rest of the course. Students want to know that their instructors are competent, experienced instructors who care about them.
To create a positive fist impression, I try to be on early, chat with the students in a friendly manner, start on time, and generally follow the recommendations in the module.
Because I teach business courses - I know that making a first impression is ruly industry modeling. I try to use all the same guidelines in making a first impression to the class as I would if going to an important business meeting.
I try to have the students reflect on that as we get to know each other better.
Hi William,
It is much easier to move upward rather than trying to dig out of a hole. By being organized and prepared a professional educator will be seen as being professional and will start earning the respect of the students.
Gary
By creating a positive first impression, the teacher will establish a professonal image.
Any negative perceptions would be more difficult to alter after the first impression has been formed.
Hi Stan,
What are some ways you create a positive first impression for your students?
Gary
A positive first impression is very important. The students want to know that you take the course material seriously, that you know the material thoroughly, and that you will be a good guide for them to follow throughout the course.
If there are any signs of negativity, it could lead to student failure or drop out.
Hi Bruce,
Right you are. Setting the tone for the class is important for the students. This way they will know what the expectations are and how you are going to conduct the class. This should help to get them settled into the course and ready to learn.
Gary
You are expecting that these students will listen tou you, learn from you, and respond to you for the next 15 weeks. Making a positive first impression is the first step in ensuring all of those things. They have to feel good about you adn what they can learn from you when they leave class that first day. You will enevitably lose some throughtout the semester but if you expect to get through to most of them it has to begin on day one
Hi Cecilia,
You make a good point about making an impression that is a two way effort. You are right that students do like to make good impressions on instructors just as instructors need to make good impressions on the students. This is the basis for developing respect for both.
Gary
I think that it is very important to make this first impression a positive one. As stated this will set the stage for the rest of the course. You serve as their role model and that is also very important in any field. Personally, I like to arrive early, so that I set an example of what I expect from the students in return. As instructors we worry about making a good impression, but sometimes we don't realize that the students want to impress us more.
Thanks Norma,and you are welcome!
Mark
thank you for the great information and reinforcment on the importance of making a positive first impression
Hi Jason,
That is where that saying about this being the first of day of the rest of your life comes in. Instructors can set the tone for the entire class that first day in spite of what perceptions may be floating out there about what kind of instructor you are.
Gary
Hi Mark,
Good explanation of how to start a class. The fun part of teaching is trying to stay on top of that mountain for the entire course. Tough to do but fun to try.
Gary
for those of us teaching on ground - I suspect our "reputations" often precede us...student may have heard stories (positive, negative) about what to expect from an individual instructor...
I find the first day a great time to "dispel the myths," to wipe the slate clean, and to encourage students to set the correct and appropriate expectations for the course.
Hi Robert,
What a great experience base you have. With this amount of experience you have a number of different approaches you can use to reach your students. Since the online method of instructional delivery is expanding so rapidly it takes experienced instructors like you sharing what you have learned about what to do to get students involved and helping other instructors. Keep up the good work.
Gary
It absolutely sets the stage for the entire semester. Getting off to a strong start is critical, it sets at ease not only the students, but the instructor as well. I feel that my first class each semester is my best, which is great, it sets a great tone and expectation for the remainder of the semester, but it also means that I have reached the apex on the first day, and it is a slow ride down hill the rest of the way! :)
Tone is so important. When the class has a positive start , it conveys to the student the image of professionalisim you preach. If the student then makes the connection between your image and success, then you have them learning more than stats.
Easy question for those who teach in a traditional classroom and much harder for those of us who now teach predominantly online (I have more than 20 years experience in the classroom, virtual classroom, & hybrid classrooms).
In the virtual world the best first impression is for the professor to "reach out", provide easy access to their biography, and whenever possible (I like to use instant messaging withing the classroom) attempt to say "hello" and "we just started I'm Dr. Fiermonte and since you were online I wanted to check to see if you had any questions or if I can help with anything". Using that method I often can identify technical, skill based, or simply motivational issues very early and can help the student become more comfortable even in complex and difficult classes.
Additionally I hold a live "seminar" each week but the first seminar is used as an opportunity to introduce all the items we learned in Module 3 but in a virtual way (FYI seminars are recorded so those that cannot attend can always replay the seminars at their leisure).
As a student I always expected, in order of importance:
1. Knowledgeable individual
2. Clear in delivering information
3. Approachable
4. Fair and keeping high expectations of my performance
4. Fun
While I agree that first impressions are very important, in my experience with many instructors my first impressions fail in predicting how the above would come out.
