By introducing myself to my students they are able to learn more about me as their instructor. It opens the door to developing a personal rapport with the students. Having the students introduce themselves to me, allows me to learn something about them. I think as an instructor learning about your students helps open the door on better communication and comfort levels.
I find this a key element of my class. It provides me with valuable info that I reference throughout the quarter. I take notes on the info and use it when I have issues with a student or I see things that concern me. It also provides vcaluable info for me to use when lecturing or doing activities, as it allows me to create lessons that are authentic to the specific class and to draw upon their experiences. Learning about the instructor allows the class to see me as credible, knowledgeable, relateable, and open to them. I find this learning time as a key fundamental to my class.
Hi Dylan,
Good way to establish yourself as the class leader and a knowledgeable person in the field. This will help you to earn the respect of the students from the very beginning which will carry over for the entire course.
Gary
since i am a fairly young instructor it helps to give my background and experience as it relates to the industry
You are learning about each other. You are introducing yourself to the students so they will feel more comfortable with you and understand who you are. The students are doing the same when they introduce themselves to us. We are also learning all their names so we doing have to say "Hey you" all the time.
I teach a speech class to new culinary and patisserie/baking students and our first speech at the end of week 1 is a Speech of Introduction. Each term this first Friday is one of the most amazing days in my teaching history.
I have found that students are painfjully honest and express their hardships, struggles and vulnerability. It becomes a natural bonding activity, students respond differently to each other, and that bond carries into their lab classes.
We marvel at our diversity and the fact that our paths have merged to follow our culinary passions. What a trip!!
I am determining what their level of comprehension is of the particular topic.
What degree program are they in - and how this course will enhance their profession.
Basically, it's a 2-way street of open communication; it allows the student and teacher to get to know each other in a comfortable and non-threatening way. It sets the grounds for the real relationship of the time together; the rapport between instructor and class/ individuals.
Introductions allow the students to learn where I come from and for me to learn where they come from. This then gives me a sense of why they are in class, how they might learn, and what topics will be of most interest to the them.
Terry,
I agree that introductions are a way of getting students to feel a bit comfortable with the class as they talk about themselves which is a subject familiar to them. It is definitely a good icebreaker.
Introductions help the students better understand how they fit into the course. They can see how the course will help them develop and build on their previous experiences. They can also see how my experiences and expertise make me a good fit to provide the leadership needed for their development.
I get a chance to see where my students are coming from educationally, possible hobbies, how they interact with each other. I also get a chance to present who I am and what is important to me. It allows the students to learn a little bit about each other and adds to class cohesion and better communication with the students. It also gives you the credibility to be their teacher. This is also a good time to set the tone for the class and the level of mutual respect that is expected from all of the people in the class including students and the teacher.
Hi Maria,
By letting the students know about your experience and that you care about the success of your students you are laying the foundation for both respect and rapport with your students. This will help the course to get off to a good start.
Gary
Introducing yourself to the class lets the students know how competent you are in the subject matter that you are going to teach. Knowing your students' strengths and weaknesses will help you approach each one in a more personalized level.
Hi Jennifer,
This is a good way of making a difference with your students even though you came into the class after it started. Sometimes as you know this can be very hard for an instructor since the students want to compare you with the previous instructor. By bringing the "human" factor into play you have established yourself as a professional educator with extensive career experience. This is a win win for everyone.
Gary
I came into the class in the middle so unfortunately i was not able to do an formal introduction. But I have used this to my advantage. When the student gather in groups, I have slowly let them get to know me as not only their instructor but as someone who cares about the subject I am teaching. They ask me about my past professional experiance and I am able to relate it to what they are now doing in the classroom. I also explain to them what it has been like to work for the employers and what is expected from them. This helps them see me as a "human" instead of just the "instructor".
I agree that getting a sense of what the students expect is important. It keeps the instructor on track and also if there are expectations/ideas about the class that are incorrect its best to get to them before there is a problem. At times the students may think that certain classes are not as important and not give the appropriate amount of attention to that class. It is good to explain why the classes are all important.
Hi Cheryl,
Good comments about how to get to know your students better. This is why rapport is so important to teaching success. The students need to respect you and feel that they can look to you for support and encouragement.
Gary
Introductions help me to know a bit more about why my students are in class(as well as their goals). Often students have their own expectations about what they want to get out of a class and if i can help them realize those expectations, it will help them to see more of a reason for participating in a class. I have found that encouraging the students to give me some background information often make them more successful by feeling as though they are more of a participant rather than an observer in their education. They have put trust in me that i can help them achieve their goals.
Getting to know each other and get a sense of what the students expect from the class. It is also important for them to know what I know and what my experience are when it comes to teaching this course. Getting comfortable with each other and prevent anxieties is also important to achieve
