I like the activity of having the students answering a few questions on a flashcard and share some of their answers with a small group. This is a great idea for the students "to break the ice" and learn that most of us have similar preferences.
I have learned of ways to engage the class on the first day when it comes to introducing myself and building a rapport with the class.
How and when it is appropriate to make the students comfortable in class and how to set the tone of the class.
I now have some new ideas for some "ice breakers" that I can use for my 1st day with my new students.
I have learned when meeting your class the first time, you need to introduce yourself, get to know them and what are their expectations about the class.
It is important to get to know your students, introduce yourself, break the barrier at the beginning of the class semester so they feel comfortable and relaxed.
Setting up expectations for ourselves and expectations to the students come hand in hand. Students expects us to be more knowledgeable and we expect students to be on their best interest.
It is important to set expectations for the class while also getting to know a little about your students.
It is important to get to know your students and also make sure they get to know one another.
This section highlights the importance of preparation and professionalism on the first day of class. Arriving early, organizing the classroom, and greeting students helps create a positive learning environment and sets the tone for the course. I also learned that understanding student behavior and group dynamics, especially in cohort groups, can help instructors manage the classroom more effectively and build strong relationships with students.
Its really important to get to class early to set the energetic tone for the class. If you are rushed and unprepared, you are setting a precedence for students.
I learned that the first class really sets the tone, so it’s important to be organized, approachable, and clear about expectations. I plan to use that first meeting to build a good connection with students and get everyone comfortable right from the start.
Get there early. No matter how many times you've set up and checked the class, it's good to do it one more time before the start of the first class. This is the time to set the tone for the class moving forward.
I've learned that knowing each student by name is important. Making a student feel that you can identify who they are and why they are in your class is important. Also, creating new groups in the class is also beneficial to everyone as it creates a sense of community. It also discourages cohorts that take up all the attention and create an imbalance of learning.
This modules states the importance of organization regarding teaching format. Also, being present for your students and how much that impacts their learning.
Learning names and modeling appropriate behavior will be important. Motivating each student as a class will keep up the excitement of learning about new topics.
Comment on Jonathan Howdeshell's post: I support this answer, expectations from the beginning and how to treat each other will help them understand the value they can take away from the course.
The module was a reminder that students need to be comfortable in order to succeed. We are student centric and our goal is for success. Getting to know the students and vice versa is important. Involving the students in their goals and expectations should be addressed from the beginning.
how to make the students comfortable by letting them know expectations of the class, assignments, expected behavior and how to treat each other.
