Diversity
Students enrolled in a school for different reasons and come from different background, different age groups, different cultures. Some come with the ambition to learning a career they have a passion for and others come because their family members want them to learn a career, so they can have a better future. They haven't decided yet what they want to do with their lives. This is where as instructors we have to put great effort, when we see the student struggling, we need to be patient, we need to listen and focus on the student's situation. Is this the right career for this student? Can we make it attractive and interesting enough for this type of student? So that he will end up enjoying, working and participating in his new career learning at school.
Tara,
This is a very comfortable and supportive way to start off a new class. Your students get to know each other, have some fun and get to see how the course is going to operate. The sets the stage for the upcoming class sessions and lets them see that they can be successful in the course if they are willing to put forth the required effort.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
One of the things I do on that first day of class is to put them at ease and find out a little about them. I give an icebreaker. I have them split up into groups and interview each other. This way there is someone else in the class that they know. I also ask that they find out where the person is from and what their goals are. This loosens the student up a lot and they make connections in the class at the same time.
I believe it is important to take intrest in students goals, backrounds and their success. I feel it is importantant to share my succes and struggles with the students, this will make them feel comfortable in the classroom environment.
I believe taking a personel intrest in my students goals and backgrounds, as well as sharing about my own successes as well as my strugles brings a certain trust among students and myself. This lets them feel secure enough to speak up and say that they are struggling,and need help.
Western culture includes people of different ethnicities, genders, social classes, sexual orientations, ages, spiritual commitments, and abilities. Most of us realize the need to understand and learn from others who differ from us. To promote instructor understand and learning about others who are different from us we need to be actively involved in learning about their experiences, values, customs and lifestyles that differ from our own and in turn this will fosters our personal growth as instructors. Interacting with a broad range of students allows us to notice not only the differences but also the similarities between others and ourselves. Participating effectively in a diverse social world is critical to professional success and even professional competence as instructional staff. I welcome the challenge each quarter that I teach. We need to be patient, understanding and good listeners.
