I start them right off with some hands on experience with the equipment. Along with my syllybus, I give them some real world scenerio's that involve the course. This tends to get them interested.
Hi Bryan,
What a nice icebreaker for the first day. Your activity is mutlipurpose. What a clever idea!
Patricia
Hi Leonard,
Wow, you made me see the desserts just from reading your response! I fully undersand your students excitement from your PowerPoint presentation. Continue to keep your students excited!
Patricia
I just completed teaching a term of Baking and pastry. In my opening powerpoints I showed them pictures of finished desserts, pastries and cakes. On these slides were my own products, professionally produced and students work. When I told them that some of pictures were of student work they were surprised. I then asked them to pick out the student work if they could.
I went on to tell them that by the end of the term they would be able to produce the work that they saw they nearly jumped with excitement. I explained that each day, they would build the skills that they would need to complete the beautifully decorated desserts that they saw. This gave them a tangible goal to shoot for and also reinforced the neccesity of daily practice.
In my Cultural Diversity class, I've found that an interesting activity, one that really gets students thinking, is crucial for the first day. I typically do these things even before I pass out the syllabus, when students are still curious and not yet overwhelmed with information. Personally, I've had great luck with a simple activity that asks students to write down the top 10 things that define them. This activity introduces the first phase of the course (introspection) and gets the students thinking, both about the subject matter and about themselves. Having their thoughtful work validated on the first day never hurts, either!
As far as understanding course requirements, I find examples work best. That, and actually having another student paraphrase what I have just said for the rest of the class. In different ways, both allow students to engage with the requirements rather than just read them (which is important, since many are weak readers!).
Hello Linda,
Lecture is good, but too much of it can make the students lose interest. I use a combination of various teaching methods. Lecture, PowerPoint with lecture, hands-on, group activities, demonstrations, etc. Students enjoy the variety.
Patricia
I have found that the best way to loose the interest of the students is to expect them to listen to a lecture for an extended period of time. I will give a short lecture over a new skill, then I will have the students participate in an exercise (or exercises)guiding them to the correct answers. I encourage the class to assist students when they can see they are having trouble coming to the right answer. I will ask questions designed to help them analyze the problem and lead them to think through and come to the correct response to what has happened, what it has affected and how it was affected.
Hello Jennifer,
Students love it in Professional Development whenever I show them a Pre Resume and a Post Resume. It amazes them how much more impressive the resume looks. The students get very excited from this visual.
Patricia
By showing them physical examples of what they will be able to do upon completion of the course. For example, showing them a portfolio of a student before the course and the same student portfolio after taking the course. Also by discussing some of the interesting activities that they will have the opportunity to be involved in during the course.
One thing I try to do is show my portfolio, highlighting those pieces that are relevant to the course, with the underlying message that I'm teaching them to be able to do what I do.
Hi Jeffrey,
What a great tactic to use. We do the same thing at my institution. I strongly encourage this practice. It really is very effective.
Patricia
Hi Deborah,
Have you developed a well thought out plan to get your students interested and involved, and if so, what was the plan?
Patricia
A well thought out plan , get them involved with groups and some hands on material
When we start a new session here, as an instructor, we spend about an hour to an hour and a half discussing in detail about the course, the objectives, syllabus extra credit and ways for the stundents to challange themselves. It works very weel.
Hello Peter,
Competition can be a good thing, and students enjoying hearing stories about competing. Have you had an opportunity to tell students about your winning the competition? Students enjoy hearing about our stories.
Patricia
One method i use to get students excited about the course is use a story about cooking competitions as i compete a lot in the acf hot and cold food all over the country.
i relate it directly to mis en place and the classroom. to be successful in competition ( as most students seem to get very excited at the word) you need to be prepared. I tell them that all the successes come from being prepared at the most basic level, sharp knives, good uniform, have a mental plan, and know your recipes. I then segway it to what is on the schedule for the day. students generally seem very excited to cook and love the thought of competitive cooking, even if it is just an icebreaker, it does pique interest.
Hi James,
My students enjoy hearing my stories, and I am certain your students enjoy hearing your stories. Story telling is an exciting component of lecturing.
Patricia
Hi John,
You give your students in-depth information up front. I am sure your students appreciate your thoroughness.
Patricia
I make sure that the students know me and how the knowledge and application of the course content has been important to me - I tell them an "I" story about a time when I used the knowledge and skills that are the focus of this course. I then ask them to consider how they will use the knowledge and skills in their own careers.
At the beginning of the first day I like to explain to my students what the projects are & how to do them,What the wieght of each project is & how they will be asigned, What we are trying to simulate through that project,& how it relates to the field they will be entering. J.P.
