I agree. The more I move around the class, the more engaged the students stay focused. I never sit at my desk and lecture from there. I enjoy the debates and the interactions. I love what I do and I guess it shows when I get positive feedback.
Professionalism is the key. First impression sets the days ahead if students attendance will be retained. When I show that I am there for them and for their success, students appreciate the insightful comments.
Nicole,
This is why it is so important to make sure the first class meeting is a good one.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Richard,
I would try and develop an activity that gets the students using some of the contents of the new course at the first meeting. I would use a role play, case study approach so even though they may be in their fourth class they see that there is something new to learn. As you know it is easy for them to think they know it all after being together for three courses and are a cohort group.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree - how your students perceive you on that first day carries a lot of weight throughout the rest of the course.
I teach in a career college where I instruct multiple classes within the same program. The students also move as a group through the program. Any thought on how to make that first class more meaningful when this might be the fourth class with the same group of students?
Kent,
So true. A poor first impression will have you digging out of a negative hole for the majority of the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
You only get one chance to make a first impression, you need to present yourself in a professional and positive manner. You can lose control of your class if you don't.
Jaime,
All good points about how a student needs to see his or her instructor. This forms the foundation for the development of respect and rapport.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Djuna,
This is so important for older students. They have a lot of fears that the younger students don't have and most of their fears revolve around their being able to do the work and use the technology. If you can set their minds at ease in these areas and show them how they can be successful they wills settle into the course and do well.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Lori,
Good point and one that brings even more pressure to you. You are setting the standard for your instructors as well as your profession so you want to always be a the top of your game in relation to the impression you make.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Kulsoom,
Building on a positive first impression is a great way to start a new class. Digging out of a negative hole is a tough way to maintain control of the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
The students needs to know that they can feel comfortable with their instructor. They need to know that the instructor is going to be fair and really there to help them succeed. They also need to see that their teacher is a real person and can relate to them.
Some students have been out of school for period of some time. You want to put any fears at ease a start setting the tone for the class. By making a positive first impression you also demostrate professionalism and what you expect from the class as well
I need to make a positive impression because I am also the Program Chair of my Course. The students have to see me as reliable person.
first impression if it is positive it will run your module smoothly, but if its negative it ill creat stress full time for the instructor and for th students
Students will size up there instructors the first few minutes of class. If you display unprofessional behavior, you will lose the respect of the class.
Donna,
It is so much better to build upward and onward than digging out of a hole. You make a good point about how long first impressions last. We need to make the first impression a good one each time we start a new class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
making a good first impression is very important because this sets the presendence for the remainder of the class. The first impression is how they will remember you for a lifetime.
You only get to give a first impression once, and after that most students have made up there minds as to how they will interact with you and the course.
