It is the first of many daily affirmations, if you will. The notion that you want to know something about them shows that you as a teacher really care about what you do. That connection will help motivate and inspire your students.
I concur, Julie. The students do appreciate your knowledge and experience, and when I get the opportunity I like to find out where my students are from and what they are experienced in. It meant a lot to me when I was a student to know that my teachers cared to learn about me. It really made me a more interested learner.
By getting to know the students, and having them get to know you, the rest of the class time together can be more effective. All groups are made up of different personalities, and by assessing how the group operates both individually and collectively, you can better plan the rest of the time together. By introducing yourself as an expert in the field, and giving examples both of your experience and success in teaching, you give the students a feeling of ease that they will be learning something useful in your course.
Hi Michelle,
Great strategy. Simple and very effective. Thanks for sharing it with us. So I'm Gary and I am impressed.
Gary
On the first day of school I usually distribute a questionaiire. I ask the students if they have children, if they work, their strengths and weaknesses. I also ask their goals for the future in nursing, their favorite color, and what they do in their free time
This allows me to get to know a little something about each student on the frist day of school. It also allows me to adapt my clinical rotation to each students needs.
Mariann U
By introducing myself to the students I also give my educational background and years spent at the school. I also give them my clinical background of areas that I have worked in. This eliminates any uncertainity regarding my qualifications as an instructor. All this is done on day one of the clinical rotation.
Mariann U
I agree. Part of the reason I was shy was because I was usually the youngest in the group and I did not have the experiences other students had. I think an interesting way to learn names and a bit about the students is asking them to say their name and one word that describes them that starts with the first letter of their name. So I'm Michelle and I'm motivated.
I try to add a small but varied series of questions that might appeal to them while also showing I am a human being as well, such as their favorite album. This also allows me to immediately endorse certain tastes they may have.
I think introductions are especially valuable in an online learning environment. Without face-to-face interaction with the students during that first meeting, it is more difficult to build rapport anyway, and introductions allow the students to see at least a part of the human behind the instructor's comments.
Introductions can also be a valuable insight into the likes and dislikes of your students which can be very valuable later on in the class if you need to motivate individual students through real world examples and want to make give examples that are relevant to that student.
They will learn a little bit about me and I will learn a little about each one of them. I always did this in a professional environment too. It makes you more accessable and more human to the class.
Hi Robert,
Good way to lay a solid foundation for how the course is going to operate and what the student expectations are. This serves to get the students settled in and ready for the upcoming course.
Gary
One thing that can be accomplished is diffusing future complaint on behalf of the student, if not during introductions then during first-day discussion somewhere. If the course is a particularly unpopular one, the first day gives the instructor the opportunity to honestly ask the students how many of them feel the course is not worth their time or do not understand why they are in it. After seeing who raises hands, the instructor can assure the students they are more than welcome to come to him or her any time to discuss how they are feeling about the course. This empowers the student, and for some, this simple statement may take away the fire they might later have to complain and make problems.
You build a better repore with the students and for me I learn their names quicker which assists in building a more positive learning environment.
I always start off my class with an introduction section. It gives me a chance to get to know the various backgrounds of my students, where they want their journeys in the music business to take them, and what skills they are already bringing to my class. It also gives me a chance to talk about what I've learned, where I'm coming from, and back up my experience with stories about my work in the field. It also helps lighten the mood and allow you to create a bond with your students based on personal knowledge and interests.
I find that the first day of class is crucial to creating an atmosphere of communication that will last throughout the course. I spend a fair amount of time talking about the things that I have done in my life, and ask the students to share things about what they have done. I also ask them to write down their own personal goals for the course. I think that helps them to focus on where they want to be when the course is over.
You are getting to know the student's background and are also setting them at ease. You also introduce some of your own information with the students.
Hi Joanna,
Good information on how to use ice breakers as learning tools for your instructional planning. By interacting with your students and observing them as they work through ice breakers you can develop a very good idea of how to approach the class and meet the needs of your students.
Gary
You are accomplishing the idea of breaking the ice and nervousness for the students and yourself. You can gain common ground and help eliminate any anxiety the students may have about the other students and staff. Also, it helps to ask questions about expectations, goals, dreams, etc to help you know what to include through out the term in order to help the students achieve this goal.
Hi Jerry,
I wish you the best in your introduction of ice breakers. They are low stress, fun to do and gives students a chance to create a relationship with other students. By talking and laughing together the first class meeting they forget for a minute or two how nervous they are about being successful in the course. The nerves will pop up again but by that time they know some of the other students and little bit more about you the instructor so the isolation is not so strong and they start to see that they can be successful in the course.
Gary
Well, Dr. Meers, hopefully through proper introduction of ourselves to the students, we're beginning the icebreaking session. Most learners experience a great deal of anxiety, especially those who may have not been in a classroom setting for many years. We may be fostering a learning environment of trust as well, when we have the learners break the ice and get to know one another a little better; the same applies for our introductions.
