Meeting the Class for the First Time | Origin: ED101
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Effective Teaching Strategies --> Meeting the Class for the First Time
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
utilizing index cards for ice breakers and getting to know students' names is very clever and easy.
I love the idea of an icebreaker to get familiar with your class, and allowing them to get to know the instructor as well.
I greatly appreciate the idea of the 3x5 cards and getting to know the student's names. I struggle with this constantly and feel this will help me put a face to the name. I'm looking forward to trying it.
A pretest gives my students an idea of what will be covered in the course and how they are going to be assessed.
Introducing yourself to your students and sharing your professional experience will give your student s a sense of security and understanding of your leadership and goals. also, get to know your students, creating a familiar and warm place for them to learn will increase their passion for their career and educational goals.
I learned motivating students can be done by letting them know what the expectations are including where they are going and how they will get there.
Introducing yourself and having the students introduce themselves and explain what is their why for being in the program and building rapport by making them feel relevant.
Learn their names. Get to know them. Makes them feel relevant
The best way to break the ice within your class would be for the instructor to introduce themselves to the students, followed by a round of introductions where students go around the room and share an interesting fact or a hobby. This helps maintain calm in an already stressful situation, especially after introductions, when reviewing the class syllabus and course expectations. This will provide students with an understanding of what to expect in the course. Lastly, the instructor should hold a Q&A session where any questions that need clarification can be addressed.
Getting know your students and letting the know something about you is essential. Students need to feel comfortable with you as instructor that they have a safe space to ask questions and not feel judged if they need further explanation of a concept or skill. As. an instructor I would be supportive of my students and convey to them that I am a conduit for their academic success.
It's super important for you to know your students and they know you so nobody is uncomfortable and it makes it much smoother and easier to learn in the class. Also for them to know each other .
Very interesing and informative.
I learned that breaking the ice is crucial to having a successful class. I found it creative the many ways one can learn people's names. Having a plan from beginning to end is important to control the flow of the class.
Comment on John Cabra's post: Yes. that was quite interesting. Caught my attention as well.
That it is important to make an effort to learn about your students; the flashcards with 2 facts about them & the other cards with their preferred names, would definitely help me in getting to know them better; I think I will apply such activity on my first class on their first day. ty.
From this module, I’ve learned that the first meeting with a class sets the tone for the entire learning experience. Establishing clear expectations, building rapport, and creating a welcoming environment are essential for student engagement and trust. I plan to apply this by introducing myself with enthusiasm, learning students’ names early, and setting clear guidelines that promote respect and participation from day one.
From this module, I’ve learned that effective instruction involves far more than just delivering content—it requires thoughtful planning, clear objectives, and an environment that supports learning. I now understand how critical it is to align course goals, materials, and teaching strategies with student learning outcomes rather than relying solely on instructor experience.
Making the students feel at ease is important. Some students will probably take a little longer, some almost immediately. Getting to know a little bit about each students helps the teacher better address the overall personality of the class/cohort.
Prepare ahead of time. Dress appropriately, arrive early and greet at the door with a smile. Give them the confidence that they can enjoy the course and learn from it while breaking infamiliarity barriers with them and between them.
