Get Your Students Hired
As the old saying goes...you only have one opportunity to create a first impression....
This is very true and therefore even before the semester begins I learn all that I can about the student from previous instructors, I learn their names and faces and greet them in the hallways and let them know that I am looking forward to being a part of "their" class and also send each student a welcoming e-mail. I find that this creates a familiarity and eases the "stress" of a new class/instructor.
Karen,
I can appreciate your challenge as you want to make sure you are offering the maximum instruction to your students while maintain the needed pace of the class. As for approaching Day 1 of your Pathology course I would address their concerns in the opening statements you make about the course. I would talk about board exams and how you will be taking them through the material that they need to sit for boards. Give some examples of how you are going to do this. This way you will be earning their respect because you are letting them know you understand their concerns and that you are working to provide the needed instruction as well as support to help them be successful in sitting for boards. From there you can go into depth about how the course is going to operate and what their responsibilities are going to be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Hi:
I am a new instructor to this course this year. I taught Pathology I in the Spring and am gearing up for Pathology II this winter. As I teach an accelerated evening program I found that some of my topics that relied on previous Anatomy instruction the students had not been taught the material yet. So being that I was building the curriculum as I went I made a syllabus change mid course to include portions of the anatomy that the student needed to understand the material, but wouldn't get until they covered it in depth in their Anatomy class.
When we talk about first impressions, I felt like this was a disadvantage to myself because the course "switch" left the students with an uneasy feeling like they were not going to cover all the material they needed for their board exams. I know we covered everything and then some as the course hours for accreditation and boards for both pathology and anatomy and physiology is 40hrs. My pathology courses alone covers 100hrs.
My first reviews from the students brought up concerns about whether they had covered enough material so I am concerned that their first impression of me as an instructor is "guarded". They all indicated that I was knowledgeable and pushed them outside their comfort zone in practical application of material, but I am a bit apprehensive about exactly how to approach Day 1 in pathology II.
Is there a more effective way to impress upon them that my curriculum will in fact meet all of their needs for boards and in future practice? I want them to go into Pathology II confident and relaxed.
I appreciate insight.
Thank you,
Karen
Kristin,
So true and this is why we need to carefully plan our first class meeting and interaction with our new class of students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Because the first information we receive about new people influences our perception of them more than any subsequent information
Bruce,
What a powerful opportunity this is. We should relish the fact we get to do this and get paid besides.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
This is your opportunity to help set the stage for your students to be successful in your class and life.
Kevin Paul,
Yes it does. This is the foundation upon which the course is built.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find it a great opportunity to talk about where I have come from professionally and stressing that you'll never know when math will be needed in your life. With a few activities to get to know each other, first impressions can develop rapport immediately.
Scott
You only have one chance to make a first impression!
Developing a positive, mutually respectful relationship is crucial in creating a successful teaching/learning environment. Students assess their instructors at least as much as we assess them. If we fail to earn their respect, we will be playing catch up for the duration of the class. Success will be difficult at best.
Scott,
Thank you for sharing this example because as it illustrates the first impression does make a major difference in how the students perceive the course and instructor. Based upon your experience I am guessing that this will never occur again and your future students will benefit from your planning and early arrival.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Vern,
What are some examples you use to start your course off on the right foot?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I think that it sets the tone for the class where they make up their mind pretty quickly about me as an instructor.
This semester, I began my very first class ever by showing up early, only to realize that I did not have the materials provided from the institution as I expected. As I scrambled to get everything prepped, I ended up being late to class and a bit frantic.
The class wasn't a complete train wreck, but afterwards, I saw how I could have prepared better by making sure I had all that I needed the day before rather than 20 minutes before class.
Appearance wise, I might intimodate older students having had "old school" experiences; as soon as I start talking, all that changes!
Debra,
You make a key point about setting up the class in a way that will capture their interest and get them wanting to keep coming to class. This takes some planning and effort but it is worth it when you see that the students get it and are moving forward in their career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
There are a lot of answers to this question but I think most of all you want the students to have a positive experience and you want them to be happy to come to class every day. You have to give them a reason to want to keep on.
Your first impression that you give to your class will tell how the class will proceed. If you go in late and haphardly the class will feel that you do no want to be there. Or that you are going to be sloppy in the work they are going to learn. Going in there with knowledge and making a good impression will help put them at ease that you know what you are talking about. If you give students that positive first impression they feel valued and when they need to talk with you they are not going to feel like they are second class citizens, you will give them good feedback.
A positive firt day impression sets both the instructor and students at ease. Students may respect how the instructor presents him/herself in dress and manner. This can set the tone for the students to follow, at least in behavior.