setting the stage
Making sure the students have the tool they need can be a good stage setter.
Hi Jeff,
Your students are really fortunate to have you as an instructor. You can certainly bring in real life scenarios to the classroom. It sounds like you teach from a very practical perspective.
Patricia
I am a retired Attorney and teach legal courses in a Paralegal Program. I usually teach the first course these students take in the program which is Introduction to Law.
Many of these students come to me with no idea or a very vague idea of what a Paralegal does. The first thing I try to do is make them feel very comfortable with the work of a paralegal. I tell them about the Paralegal I had when I was practicing. I explain to the Class that I could not have been a successful Attorney without the assistance of my Paralegal and that she graduated from this school. I tell the class what she did for me as a paralegal.
My students leave the first class with a new appreciation of what Paralegals do and hopefully a new motivation to be as good and helpful as my Paralegal was.
Setting the stage for student expectations during the first class is very important. Students feel more comfortable about the class when they understand the objectives.
Throughout my teaching career, I've utilized and approach at the start of each class which encourages and motivates students to "own their learning" experience. I clearly state and review the objectives of the course, ask for student agreement to the syllabus, and state that each student starts the course with an 'A'. Where they go from here in the course is up to them. Students at first are surprised by the fact that they all have an A in the course and seem to be motivated to strive to maintain that A grade. We have "pulse checkpoints" where I ask students how the course is going and let them provide feedback - what do you like, what it different from what you expected in the course. These questions generate a lot of positive discussion.
Dennis,
I believe that setting the stage is integral to students' success.
To me, setting the stage means that you clearly and firmly define your course requirements and expectations, and, at the same time, you create a comfortable, non-intimidating classroom environment.
I think that setting the stage can entail a delicate balance of conveying concision and firmness with your requirements and expectations; therefore, I submit that student engagement while you are defining your requirements and expectations also is very important.
To set the stage means that you might offer a warm, inviting "ice breaker." During an "ice breaker" activity, I think that students should be given the opportunity to discuss themselves [usually one's favorite subject is himself/herself], as well as prompted to acknowledge the rest of the class.
Setting the stage involves each student feeling comfortable and settling into the course; setting the stage also involves an open line of communication between you and your students.
What do you think?
