I provide plenty of small activities and discussions that allow students to be successful in class, even if they are not strong test takers.
Cynthia,
This is what sequential learning should be about. You are growing through confidence the abilities and knowledge of your students. At the end of the course I would guess they are amazed at how much they have learned in a short period of time.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Daniel,
I like this approach myself because it lets them get settled in and learn about their classmates as well as the course requirements. Once settled then you can start the assignment of work and delivery of content and they will be ready for it.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
After thoroughly explaining my expectations, the course objectives, and how to study for the course, I begin with activities in which the students will have success. I want the first class to end with everyone feeling confident about their ability to pass. Then each day, I make the assignments a little harder. Few even notice it. As their confidence builds, they are more willing to take on each new challenge. Then I find that success breeds success.
Hey everyone, like Wendy does, we do an icebreaker at my organization before every class. We've found that this starts to move them up Cogs Ladder a little more smoothly than just having them show up on day one and start cracking open the texts. We also take a good deal of time on the first two days to go over course objectives, student guides, rubrics, past student testimonials, etc. These steps and a slow start-up, building up to a fairly heavy course load has been effective in letting all of the students build a little bit of confidence right off the bat.
I like working in small groups with students it puts them at ease and feel comfortable then 2 students present
Kent,
All of these elements can be good motivators for students as you start off a new course. You are helping them to see they did make a good decision to go on to school and create a future for themselves.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Wendy,
Like the way you open a new course because you are increasing the value of the course to them via the explanation of how their efforts will enhance their success in their careers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
You can provide examples of student success stories, especially those students who came in at a disadvantage.
Let them know the objectives, goals and assignments. Perhaps you can provide an example of an assignment or project that was completed to standard.
I agree Diana, understanding the course objective or expected outcome makes success visible. They can then look for the light at the end of the course.
As an instructor, I like to do some sort of ice breaker at the beginning of a new course so that I can get to know the students and their goals. I use the information they provide to direct some of my lecture or classroom projects. For example, if many of my students want to be stylists, I will try and relate a business class segment to their desired career. I give the examples of how the course may be helpful in the future.
The ice breaker also allows them to create a bond or familiarity with others interested in similar paths. The bonds can equal study groups and support teams.
As the instructor it is my responsibility to clearly define for the students the goals, objectives and course structure of the class. By clearly discussing the path to the outcomes that students need to present, they understand the process and the means to accomplish what they need in the class. Understanding tends to limit the fear.
