If your students think negatively of you from the very beginning, they will not respect you and they may not believe that you can effectively teach them.
Greg,
Good way to set a professional standard for your class. Many students do not see the first day of class as being important so they are late or don't come at all. I let those that come know the details of the course, due introductions and have an ice breaker. We have a fun and informative first class meeting. I let those that chose not to attend catch up on their own and I have a talk with them individually. As a result they realize that I am going to hold the standard of being on time and in class every time it meets. This is what their employers will expect and so I expect it as well since they are preparing to be professionals in their field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jessica,
Right you are. This is why the first class meeting needs to be planned in a way that sets a professional tone, is informative and enables students to get settled into the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Robert,
Thank you for these comments about how to set up the first day of class for success. All of the components you list contribute to the professional tone that needs to be set the first day.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
first day of class i have a sign on the door welcome class mun. rm. num. course mun my name. all of that is on the board. I am dress for the class 90% of my class is late and I say good morning to each student when they come in
Students will form opinions right away about your personality, professional abilities, and the course that is being taught. If the teacher is not prepared or the student has a negative first impression of the teacher or course, it may take several encounters before the student's opinion changes.
A positive first impression is important when starting a new class because it sets the tone for the entire course. Providing clear and attainable goals at the outset, and giving a concise explanation of “where the course is going†and about “how we will get there†enables students to begin to feel comfortable with the notion of a successful outcome in the course. By coming across as reasonable, knowledgeable, and human the instructor instills confidence in the students, which should help to convey a sense of caring about the students learning. This will encourage students to gain an expectation that the course will be valuable to their career goals and an enjoyable experience.
Terrance,
This is so important. Why dig out of a negative hole the entire course? With planning the first class session can set the tone for the course and then build from there. Makes teaching a lot easier for sure.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As teachers evaluate students, so do students evaluate teachers. Probably the most crucial student evaluation of teachers is at the first class meeting. The teachers appearance, demeanor, and discourse provides the student an opportunity to compare you with all their previous instructors. A positive impression that reminds students of a positive past learning experience can be a great motivator for the student. The impression that your class will be like previous successful learning experiences can be a confidence builder that creates enthusiasm to work for success.
Sara,
A positive first impression forms a foundation from which the rest of the course will operate. Building on it is so much easier rather than trying to fix or correct something that was done during the first class meeting.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
My thought is not only on the impression of myself I'm giving, but that of the school as a whole. Over the years I have occasionally heard negative comments students have of their class, the way a school is ran, etc. From a business sense, you don't want a student to decide the school's not for him or her, then drop out. On a personal note, I don't want someone to regret enrolling in a program, especially since he/she may have had to balance school with other elements like family.
But I also imagine that if a student has a positive first impression, he/she will have the motivation to do well in class and graduate!
Mary,
Good way to get them engaged and focused on what is going to be taught. Learning is hard work and requires self discipline but it can be a lot of fun as well and the students need to know this.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Lea Ann,
Yes, they do so we instructors need to bring passion for our field and enthusiasm for teaching to the class each time it meets.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I always start the class w an explaination on what we will be learning and how much fun class will be. They should always be reminded that the career they chose is going to be exciding and very rewarding.
Students often mimic the attitude of the instructor therefore a positive and professional first impression may motivate the class and stir enthusiasm for learning.
Gary,
This is a good plan to follow as it starts with a foundation of trust and support and builds from there. As time goes by then rapport can be developed and learning will be enhanced.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I feel I could do some justice to this question by basing my answer with a rationale based upon Maslow's Hierarchy. That is, on my first day I want to make sure that my students are feeling safe and secure. I can do that by making sure that my expectations are clear, and by giving students ample time for questions so that their anxiety is reduced as much as possible.
Beth,
This is such a nice way to provide informal support while letting the students reset their minds. These types of refreshing breaks really help the students to focus on learning once they are back in the classroom setting.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I teach both early morning and evening classes so keeping the students engaged in either session can be challenging. I find the evening classes the most difficult. School policy prevents instructors from having food and drink in the classroom so I take a break with students and bring them to the cafeteria. I make myself avaialble for informal discussions during the quick break. I have found students really enjoy this and will come to me at the start of class with questions and topics they want to discuss during the break.
DAVID E,
I support your professional approach. You conduct yourself as a professional while promoting excellence in the workplace. I see no problem with this at all. Keep up the good work because your students are going to benefit greatly from your influence and modeling.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
