Hi Israel,
Each instructor has to come up with a class management strategy that will work in his/her setting. I would suggest that you find a way that will enable you to keep the class moving forward while getting to know your students during the 15 day period. For example, you can use 3x5 cards and have them put their names on them and their career goal. You can review these cards and use them as memory joggers to help you call on the names of your students during discussions.
The key is find a level of comfort for yourself and your students as to how the class will operate and progress. As always there are many strategies out there so feel free to pick and chose those that will work for you in your unique setting.
Good luck with your teaching.
Gary
Hi Thomas,
Good strategy for working with students in very short time frames. This way you keep the class moving forward and you get to know your students as well. Thanks for sharing.
Gary
One thing I have found that seems to work very well is I have students bring their test answer sheets and or class/lab assignments to me that helps me connect right away with who they are also just like when we deal with a customer in a business, if you call them by name it makes them feel good, that they are recognized as an individual, it also tends to encourage them to speak with you it is more personal, even with 15 day classes it is not hard to recognize who your students are.
I have been handing out index cards on the first day of each new course cycle. I ask the students to write their names on top and then answer the question: Why am I here? I read the cards later as a way to get to know my students, this also helps them revisit the goals that brought them to a career college in the first place. I explain to the class that among my goals for the three week course cycle, that one of them is to get to know each of them by name and learn a little bit about them. This demonstrates interest in them as individuals. I use the cards throughout the course cycle to randomly call on students durring reviews. I shuffle them up so there is no set pattern to how their names are called. These cards help me to get to know each of my students by name and a little bit about them in the three short weeks we have together.
My concern here is that I have 60 students. In a 15 day period we have alot of information to cover. It would cost me an entire class period at least to do a meet and greet with every student, and that would cut short the amount of information I could give out during this very short class. I find the students as a whole care more about being educated than if I know their name off the top of my head. Just my opinion.
I work in a similar environment, we call attendance verbally to help us remember the names faster. I also call names to hand out class assignments and any other reason i can find. Some students i remember by where they sit,some by face, some for reasons that i cant explain... the point is i rapidly learn thier names.I lead some conversations with my personal experiences and ask if they relate, i also try to spot the "quiet ones" and talk to them more privately as classes evolve. I know I dont connect with every student, but they all see I am interested. Later if they need my help, many feel they can approach me.
Hi Mugsy,
Sorry to hear about cameras. New one to me. But you go with what you have. The name tags are a great memory trigger as well since you will see them over and over. Just try and tie some connection between the student and their name as you work with them and the retaining of names will come easier. Good luck!
Gary
Hi Gary thank you for the sugestions all are valid points, I do use an ice breaker on the first day, I ask the students to introduice them selves and what thay want to learn from my class. However cameras are forbidden in my instution so thats not possible. Students are required to wear a name tag at all times and as long as I can see it I;m ok.
Mugsy
Hi Michael,
You have a challenge when you are teaching short cycle courses such as yours. I would suggest that you develop an "ice breaker" activity that you use the first part of a new class cycle where you learn the names and some important facts about the students during this time. Take a digital camera in an take each student's picture. Create a class roster with the picture of each student, their name and the important fact you found out about the student. This gives you three memory triggers to help you remember their names, plus a fact about that student that helps you to start a conversation with them each time you have a few minutes to develop rapport with them.
Also, you can use name tents with their names on them to put on the front of their desks for the first or second class periods or how ever long they are in a lecture setting. Again a memory trigger for you. After doing this a while you will see how all of these support devices help you to focus in on each student and work with them even though they are only with you for a 3 week period.
Gary
