We hear it all the time that you only have one time to make a positive impression. We hear this when going on interviews, meeting new people etc. It is the same way when starting a new class. The students must form a positive image of you so that they feel comfortable. The students need to know that you are there to help them succeed. This is also important so that students gain respect for you as an instructor. Without this respect they will see you as incompetent regarding the subject matter. This will make classroom management difficult.
Any situation in which we find ourselves, we will be judged, therefore it is important, especially in the classroom, to have that strong yet gentle first impression. It sets the tone of who is in charge, the respect and the sense that you are approachable.
I like Barry Karrh's approach. Quite frequently peoples impression of you is different once they've had an opportunity to interact with you.
The 1st is impression is so important to students. On my first day of class, I always make sure I am dressed professionally, I am on-time, I share my revelant work experience with the students. I ask my students to tell me about themselves, I try to learn their names by the end of the 1st class. I make the 1st day fun and imformative. I want the students to leave on the first knowing that I am well-rounded knowledgeable instructor who is there to make the class a meaningful and positive experience for them.
As a leader of the class, the first impression is very important for students.
When you make a positive first impression let's the students know who is in charge of the class, and wht format the class will run
It's also a good idea to know your students before you bring up any negative stories about yourself. I had one class where one or two of the students found anything they could to try to make me out to be a dab instructor. If I would have shared my mistakes with them they would have used that as a reason to complain to the director that I didn't know my job. Their intent was to try to make me responsible for their lack of learning.
It gives the students comfidence in your abilities as an instructor. If the students do not have a good impression of their instructor it would be hard for them to have a positive opinion about the instructor's knowledge of the subject.
A positive first impression will help you and your students have an enjoyable semester and help them succeed. When students respect their teachers, they are more open to learning and going with the flow. If student disrespect their teachers, they are more prone not to listen and finds excuses for not doing good in the course.
Being a new instructor, it is critical to make a good first impression to foster a good learning environment and ease students' concerns that the instructor is not qualified to teach the subject matter. Preparation, in my opinion, is a key component to making a good first impression.
It sets the tone for the rest of the quarter. It is an opportunity to engage students and develop their interest in the course.
It creates respect and confidence in the students towards the instructor and they can relate better to the lecture and course content
First impressions set the tone for any relationship. While most people are willing to concede a certain amount of respect for a new authority figure, or at least the position of authority, it is critical for that person to show they are worthy of that respect. The best way to show it is by treating others with respect.
I believe a positive impression on the first day of class can set the tone for the class. If the students see you on time and prepared then they will understand how the class is going to operate. I like arriving early to class and I always know all the students names before we end the night. I am known to remember everything and it makes my students feel important.
Hi James,
I would have class introductions and an ice breaker to get them talking among themselves. This helps to set a comfortable tone for the class. After that you can take them through the syllabus and the course expectations. I like to do an activity that has a very high success rate and low stress so that everyone goes away from the first class feeling like he/she can be successful. You can also have them write down and discuss their expectations for the course as a part of the first day. The key is to get them feeling like they can accomplish the course requirements, will get along well with you and that they take away some valuable course content and skills.
Gary
In my class we pass out a quick student bio for them to fill out. We then go over them. This is a good ice-breaker and shows the students you really care!
I believe the answer to this will lie in the overall outcome of the course study. Even though I have not yet Performed my 1st class I am reminded of the time that the instructor did not adress what the student thought about the meterial present and the instructor himeself. I know from experience that the course that I was not given the opportunity to express myself as a student, the course material was not part of my librarial thinking.Would it be adventageous to have a beggining thought from the student and a ending thought of the first class together?
Hi Kenneth,
Sorry to hear about your experience with this class but I do appreciate you sharing it with us. This is a very good lesson for all instructors, especially new instructors to learn and learn well. It is TOUGH to dig out of a hole like this just as you have mentioned. I wish you much success in your future classes because I know you are going to be ahead of the games next time.
Gary
Hi Stephanie,
So true and something we instructors can never forget as we prepare to start a new class.
Gary
This past January, I started teaching. I hadn't taught a class in years. I was nervous and was not as prepared as I should have been. I started teaching without laying down the class expectations and without taking the time necessary to do proper introductions of myself or the course. I failed to make a good impression and quickly lost control of the class. The class has been an uphill struggle. This is not a situation I want to repeat. I had three other classes at the same time. However, only the one seems to have gone this way.
Regardless of the setting first impressions are imperative to create a positive atmosphere. In the classroom setting the first impression given by the instructor is going to be your "make it or break it moment". It can lay out the path for the rest of the time spent with the class and can determine whether a respectful foundation is established or not.
