Get Your Students Hired
making a Positive first impressions on students is vital to the students success. The students need to feel comfortable in the instructors ability to teach the class. Instructor should always show up on time to class and have the lesions prepared. This will set the tone and set example for the students success to always be on time to their profession and be prepared for the days work.
On the first day of class, I always introduce myself and give a background about myself. I also go around the room and ask each and every student to introduce themselves and I also ask them questions about their lives. I find that these introductions are a great ice breaker and it shows that I have interest in both their academics and their personal interests. It makes the students feel comfortable and welcome and leaves a good first impression on the students
Joanne,
The first few minutes of the course are so important. This is why doing an ice breaker and introductions helps the students to settle in and get comfortable while you are getting a "read" on the enrollees.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
it sets the tone between you and the students. you want them to willingly accept the literature and experience you can provide towards the goals you've set.
Making a good first impression puts the students at ease. They are most likely nervous about what to expect in the course and of their teacher. If you come across as a mean person, then the student well be less likely to engage or they may even drop the class.
Eric,
Bringing passion for one's field and enthusiasm for teaching about it goes a long way in setting a positive tone for students. You are right in that you need to get them right out of the chute in terms of setting the tone for the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is incredibly important to set the tone for the class in the first meeting.
Starting off with a lot of energy and making a positive impression on the students will make your job much easier throughout teaching the course. I find that many students will mirror your professionalism and enthusiasm.
If you can start them off excited about the course material, throughout the class you will not have to work as hard to engage all of the students because they will be engaging each other with their participation.
Bobbi,
This is an important part of the teaching process. Setting a positive tone for the class and giving students opportunities to connect their previous life experiences with the content being offered will help them to see the value of being in attendance and contributing to the class.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
You never have a second chance to make a first impression. The first impression that the students have of you is the one that they will carry with them. It is important to make a positive first impression in order to instill confidence in you as an instructor.
You need to have the student think positive about the class so they come to class on time and are excited to participate.
Kim,
Great way to start off a new course. This is how respect is earned and rapport developed.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Establishing trust and a sense of mutual goals has been very successful for me with my students.
Claudia,
A good first impression is the foundation upon which the rest of the course is built. This is why it is so important to plan well for the first class meeting.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Making a good first impression is the best way to start and create a good atmosphere of security to our students.
Many times I preface the introductions by indicating we are in this together for the next x amount of weeks, I am here to help and each of you will find the discussion(s), labs, and lines of communication to be rewarding. Each of you will build a relationship with the instructor as well as many of your classmates. In business, colleague development and sharing of ideas is critical to the success and continued progress of an organization.
Kareme,
Like the way you approach your students and your classes. It is upon a foundation such as you are creating that learning occurs. The human factor in teaching is what engages students and helps them to see the value associated with what is being taught.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Reinaldo,
This is how a positive first impression is made and rapport developed.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Sheniqua,
This is an essential element of being a learning leader. We are a model for both our field as well as our field education. We need to always make sure we are modeling dress, language, and conduct that reflects the highest standards of our field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Kale,
This is a critical time and this first impression time is the foundation upon which the course is going to build. So by having a comfortable and engaging first class the students get settled in and are ready for the rest of the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
There are so many reasons that making a good first impression is important that it's hard to know where to start with articulating the concept. The first thing that came to mind was the "gang up" effect that can happen in a classroom.
We have all seen it happen before. A perfectly good (and often great/well seasoned) instructor encounters a nightmare class because of one student who is very, very vocal about him or her. It only takes one student to start a near riot of dissatisfaction that can last a full session/term/semester.
Likewise, it only takes one student to say, "I like her/him" in order to sway the entire class to a positive impression. And, this is where the concept of the first impression has the longest lasting impact.
I think of it as winning just one student at a time. If I can make a quick connection with a student - just one at a time - I can increase my chances that he or she will be my advocate. What's the easiest way to do that? In my opinion, the fastest and easiest way is to show that I live by my life motto: to seek first to understand.
From here, we have a lot of ways to go. Questions like - what do you hope to get out of this class? or what are your concerns about this course? can set students at ease and allow the impression that their opinions count. Adult learners want to know that they are heard, understood, and credited for the experience that they bring in the door.
So, to make a good first - and lasting! - impression, my technique is to engage just one at at time and to allow all voices to be heard.