Jessica,
Yes, it can. I like the way you get your students involved and learning about each other. This forms the foundation of respect for each other and you the instructor.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
From the first day, instructors need to create a community of learners. They need to see themselves as part of a larger whole and even see the instructor as part of that whole, a coach and cheerleader to their team. Learning students' names the first day is a good step, pairing them up and having them introduce each other to other students in the classroom can also be effective. Who's like me? scavenger hunts can be used to get students to meet people who have similar interests. Once a community of learners has been established, it can be maintained through group work, game play, partner learning, role play and other class games.
Kathy,
Good comprehensive teaching plan. This is what it takes to reach out to all students and bring them into the learning process.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
We play team games such as Jeopardy, splitting the class in half and they can answer the questions as a team. There is an time at the end of each class for studing where they can work together. I call on everyone by names and treat them as indiviuals.
James,
I think sessions like this are so important because of the reasons you mention. This brings more buy-in from students.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
By having them do grounp projects and dicussion. Which lets them voice there opinion in a group setting.
Students feel part of the class when they help the instructor with everything from set-up, clean-up to passing out assignments. Everyone should have a role they play in the classroom and it should be changed up weekly or so, giving everyone a turn, as the student may enjoy a task they did not think they would.
Charles,
I like to use this strategy as well for the reasons you listed. All of us have to work with others in our workplace so the more our students learn how to work with others to problem solve the more success they will be in the work place.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
When we have Labs in the classroom , i often have the students team up to solve problems, it seems that working together allows the student to relax and tackle individual problems in a more supported enviroment. like they say, two heads sre better than one!They also build rapport with each other and often become friends with also helps in retention.
Nicole,
You are helping these students to become invested in the class through participation and leadership. Good strategy.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Beth,
A large part of teaching is establishing a relationship with students and getting them to invest their time and effort (not to mention money) in their learning. The more learning the closer they are going to be to their career goals.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
i think to make them motivated and intersting
The way I would make a student feel like part of the class is before a big test or quiz have the class split into two teams and have a captain for each team. I feel that would make a student feel like part of the class if you gave them some sort of job to do to where they felt important.
I think knowing their names and something about them that you can regularly talk about makes anyone, students or others, feel you are interested in them and care about them. Finding opportunities to acknowledge and build off of comments made by students in previous classes also shows that you are remembering them and their contributions.
Sarah,
I use ice breakers to start my new classes as well. They are great to get everyone talking, laughing and getting settled into the course. Thanks for sharing your ideas about fun questions that can be asked as you work through the ice breaker. This will be of help to other instructors.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
I really enjoy the "ice-breaker" question technique. I always try to throw in some random questions students would not expect, like "If you were an animal, what animal would you be?" These questions tend to allow for some humor to break the ice in a situation that can be scary for some.
There are a few strategies for making students feel a part of the class, such as a sense of social and academic independence. Allowing students to share their input, and experiences with the class, does provide an opportunity for students to use their talents and experiences to promote leaning for all students, who are engaged. Questioning students helps the instructor to gage how to best meet the educational needs, to include making students feel as part of the class.
-Tracy
call on different students to answer questions. Try and get all the students to fully participate in each class day.
Tahiddie,
What are some ways you do this?
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
YOU CALL ON EACH STUDENT AND IF THEY DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER YOU TALK THEM THROUGH IT.
