Showing an openness to learn about the students will hopefully encourage them to be willing to learn from me!
What I learned is that the most important things to do is building a personal connection fast. Learn names, share backgrounds, encourage student introductions. Then establishing classroom culture. Clarifying expectations early on for participation, assignments, grading, and behaviour. To give an exciting course overview, and set the tone for professionalism and integrity. There was so much that I learned and it gave me a great starting point on how to start my next semester.
I intend to create an environment that the students will have a sense of belonging, a sense of comfort about their ability to succeed in the course. I believe that such support system will help most students to continue progress toward their career goals.
It shows that preparing for the first class not only benefits the instructor but also the students. I makes them more open to the course materials and the path they will be taking with those materials to achieve their goals.
I learnt that the first class really sets the tone for the rest of the semester it's important to start building a sense of community early.
Providing students with a sense of where they're going and how they'll get there is a great outcome for the first class with a new group!
Getting to know your students and allowing them to get to know you, creates a safe and welcoming environment where the students feel comfortable and will allow for more open discussions and learning
Tell the students about yourself to make a good impression.
One of my favorite parts of this was actually the video with the instructor that said something along the lines of, "I don't want to know anything you learned the night before. I want to know what came to you as we discussed this during class." I feel like that is very indicative of effective, engaged learning - being in the moment and responding to what is being discussed at the time.
Getting to know your students, and allowing them to also get to know me as an their instructor creates a learning environment of trust.
Introductions are very important and remembering their names. How to motivate students and describing the expectations of not only students but also of yourself as a teacher.
One lesson I am taking away is just ensuring that I am on time for my class. Also, taking the time to get to know everyone's name while also engaging each other to help the peers in getting to know each other.
Main thing I learned is arrive early and be prepared. That first impression is so important and sets the tone for the class.
4-things for the first day:
where going and how get there.
other members of the class are not strangers.
demonstrated care about their learning.
relevancy and enjoyabililty of the course
Introductions are fun for both me and the students. Sometimes even if students have been in other classes before, they may not know that another student lives in the same town or drives the same car.
Introductions are a key step in getting to know your students, fostering mutual respect, and building strong rapport from the start.
Introduction is important and giving students background information about yourself to show your expertise in the course and make the feel comfortable.
Meeting the class for the first time is an opportunity to get to know them and establish your authority and knowledge. In telling the class about your experience, you are asserting that you know the content of the class. By having the students introduce themselves and likewise introducing yourself, you're forming a bond and trust with your students by getting to know one another.
I have learned that making a positive first impression and establishing clear expectations is key when meeting a class for the first time. I will introduce myself, explain the course objectives, and outline key policies and expectations. I will also make an effort to create an inclusive and welcoming environment by engaging students with an icebreaker activity or asking them about their goals for the course.
