Welcome! Welcome!

This teaching tip begins by emphasizing how important it is to feel welcome on campus.

It is a truism that people are more productive when they work in a comfortable climate. Students tell the CIRT that a key ingredient in their learning is that they are treated respectfully in the classroom. They do not expect faculty to pretend to be buddies but they do work harder for someone who acknowledges that they are people. Depersonalized classrooms can alienate students from the learning experience. We can send you a short summary of Roger Ailes' communication studies on "first impressions" and how we influence our students on the first day.

As teachers, part of our responsibility is to help set a climate that helps students build the social relationships that support their learning. Taking time to welcome students to the university and to your classroom is a great way to communicate a personal approach.

Friendly Classrooms

Of course, the one place to begin is by encouraging a friendlier atmosphere in our classrooms. Here are some tips. Contact the CIRT for a list of "101 Random Acts of Kindness Toward Students" for additional ideas.

Greetings. Be ready to greet your students as they arrive in the classroom. In the five minutes before class you can shake hands and have an informal chat with some students. Are they glad to be here? Has something good happened to them since they arrived? Are they planning to do something interesting on campus (sports, clubs, etc.) this semester?

Names. Students say that it matters when teachers know their names. There are many different strategies to help learn names -- photos, videos, seating charts, name tags, name games -- depending on class size.

Build Bridges. Help students build bridges to your material by asking them to share and analyze relevant information. Asking students to explain where their names come from can build bridges to history, sociology, linguistics, etc. Have students line up according to some characteristic (sports' letters in physical education class or political values in social work, for example); let students meet neighbors; and explain how different ends of the spectrum will engage the class differently.

Collect & Connect. Use index cards to collect information about students. Limit the information to that which you can use. As you prepare lessons, use this information in selecting examples to connect the course materials to their lives.

Stay Late. Announce to your class that you will hang around for a few minutes after class and that you welcome them to come up and ask questions or just talk. Emphasize that this is not to encourage teacher pets but to help them get information about the university and/or about how to do course work successfully.

Teacher Friendly

Knowing more about the students helps you connect to them. When students know more about you, they can return the kindness. Some suggestions.

Share Your Interests. Take some time during one of the first days of class to explain to students why you care about this subject. Let them know the questions you are working to understand. Share how this subject has contributed to your life.

Share Yourself. If you are comfortable, take a few minutes to share some of your personal interests or concerns with the class. While teachers do not want to bore the class with their life history, it helps students to realize that you have a life bigger than the classroom. Remember, your attitudes serve to model how educated people approach the world.

Use Humor. It is okay to let students see your sense of humor. Share jokes, puns, and humorous observations in class. You might also post to a class email list. Good-natured humor is always welcomed; be more cautious with cynical or overly personal humor.

Campus Friendly

Students tell us that the social tone of the campus contributes a great deal to their comfort level. When people make an effort to treat them personably, they feel welcome and ready to work. Distanced, distracted, cool treatment makes them feel unwanted. Try these ideas.

Say Hello. When you meet students outside the classroom take a second to say hello. A wave or nod is often enough to let students know that you recognize them. Start an informal conversation when standing in line with a student that has been in one of your classes.

Casual Time. Schedule some casual time with students. Arrange to meet at the Commons for part of office hours. Invite students to a ball game or convocation series, especially those who deserve recognition or need extra attention.

Offer Help. The Here-to-Help program is well received by students. Especially during the early days of the semester be alert for students who are lost or uncertain. Be pro-active. Offer to help.

Final Comments

Karron Lewis, author of Taming the Pedagogical Monster, explains, "The more students (especially freshman) feel like "nobodies" in their classes, the less motivated they are to learn and the less likely they are to do the required work. So, it is worth your time and effort to get to know the students as individuals. Then, eye contact in the classroom can be between "friends" not "strangers." Addressing students by name and knowing their individual interests makes meaningful exchanges in class more likely. By removing the barrier of anonymity, you may increase the students' attention and sense of participation as well as their satisfaction with the course." Welcoming students is more than a nice thing to do, it is pedagogically smart too.

This Teaching Tip was first published by Indiana State University’s, Center for Teaching and Learning on August 25, 1997.