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.
Nelia Diaz
A pretest gives your students a idea of what is going to be covered in the courses and how they are going to be assessed.
First impressions can set the tone for semester. It is very important to connect with the students in a positive way.
By sharing about your career experience you are establishing yourself as a person of expertise and Authority.
It helps students to actively engage with each other as well as learn about their instructor's background
I learned that to motivate students it’s reasonable to set expectations based on business and industry standards incorporating activities that engage the students in the learning process. Another thing is giving students a pretext which will help and give them an idea of what is going to be covered in the course and how they are going to be assessed. Lastly, having a sense of where the students will be going with the course and how they will get there with an expectation. This will set a standard for the course to be valued and enjoyable.
This module seems to operate on the assumption that we do not have about 4 hours of content to cover in addition to the introductions and course orientation. A lengthy introduction would be nice, but it is simply not plausible in a rapid-paced nursing program. I may do an introductory discussion thread for them ahead of the first class to establish somewhat of an introduction before class begins. I like the name tents concept though. I have wanted to do this before but have not yet.
Comment on Dr. Pamela Wooldridge's post:
I agree with this, it is important to properly pronounce a persons name.
When meeting a class for the first time, the main takeaways from a learning module focused on planning, preparation, and the syllabus as a contract include the importance of establishing clear expectations, building trust, and setting the tone for the course. The syllabus should be presented as a foundational document that outlines course objectives, grading policies, required materials, and behavioral norms, essentially serving as a mutual agreement between instructor and students. This initial meeting is an opportunity to communicate your commitment to student success, demonstrate your preparedness, and invite students to take ownership of their learning journey. It’s also a chance to foster a respectful and transparent classroom culture from day one.
The first day can be overwhelming, for the students and the instructor. I make a 3 x 5 card for myself with an outline of what I would like to cover. Because the students don't often remember everything I presented, I give them a written handout of what I cover that day, so they can go over it later at home. I do let them know they will have a test the next class, and what it will be about, however, I wait until the 2nd class to discuss strategy of test taking, and other details related to testing, to try and spread out the information a bit so they do not become overloaded on day 1.
Make an effort to get to know the individuals in your class, after introducing yourself and your background experience to them.
I learned that personalizing classroom time for students is important to provide a successful learning environment. To create this, it is essential to learn each student's name and address them by that name when engaging with them. Being early allows time to discuss topics beyond what is covered in class and sets the stage for building relationships and trust, which are essential to productive classroom time.
Make sure that you introduce yourself and then open the floor for students to introduce themselves. Then lay out clear expectations of what is going to happen. That way students dont get scared because they feel like they have no idea what is happening
First impressions are important. Getting to know each student and making them feel that they are an important part of class will help to retain their interest.
Learning names is my focus. People want to hear their names. period.
