Projecting the "Human Factor" is huge for instructors.  learning students names, and a tidbit of information about them, can really build a good positive rapport. this will help provide personalized education for the students, and build an open positive atmosphere, which will help keep them stay engaged and looking forward to class.  

Examining the entirety of the class to get a scope of the diversity of the individuals, this will help to ultimatley determine what they will need intrinsically and extrinsically as students to get the most out of the class, and hopefully help them connect with me as an instructor, to be able to meet those needs.