Who are you

Summary

The web content outlines a reflective assignment for students to help their teacher understand them better, fostering a more personalized and engaging learning environment.

Abstract

The website presents an educational approach where students are encouraged to share personal insights with their teacher. This is done through a series of reflective questions that aim to reveal each student's unique background, learning preferences, and aspirations. The assignment is inspired by an article from Edutopia.org and includes prompts about the student's name, major, hometown, and what they wish their teacher knew about them to enhance the teaching experience. Students are also asked to describe their ideal school, their perceptions of teacher expectations, and memorable moments from the previous school year. The exercise concludes with a creative component, inviting students to share their current favorite song and a photo of themselves.

Opinions

Students value teachers who show interest in their personal interests and career goals, as it creates a sense of connection and improves learning.
A student expresses that a teacher's understanding of their students can significantly impact the effectiveness of teaching and learning.
There is a desire among students for schools to be different, though specific improvements are not detailed in the content provided.
Positive engagement in school is linked to moments when students feel truly connected to the material or their teachers.
Students are keen on being seen as individuals with unique characteristics and wish for teachers to recognize and appreciate these traits.
The idea of building an ideal school from scratch is presented, suggesting that students have ideas on how educational environments could be improved.
The inclusion of a favorite song and a personal photo indicates a preference for expressing personal identity and interests within the educational context.

Who are you

hoo hoo

I ask students these questions on the first day of classes, and I find it really helps us get to know each other right away. The answer below from one of my students demonstrates why this small touch can help in the classroom:

What do you wish I would ask you so that I can be a good teacher for you? You could ask me about my career interests and other irrelevant interests because I really like to find connections with people. It makes me feel like I know them better, and I feel like I learn better from people that I know and that know me. Some professors disconnect themselves from their students as much as possible, and I totally understand and respect that. However, for me, learning from a stranger isn’t as effective!

For your first reflection assignment, answer the following questions from and inspired by Edutopia.org. Copy and paste all the questions, click respond at the end of this post, write your answers and click publish when you’re finished.

What’s your name, major and hometown?

What would be the most useful thing for me to know about you as a student?

What do you wish was different about school?

Describe a moment in school last year when you felt really engaged. Why do you think that moment was such a positive one for you?

What do you think teachers think about you, and what do you wish they’d think about you?

Tell me about a teacher who you feel knew you well. What kind of student were you in his or her class? What did he or she do to get to know you?

If you could build a school, what would it look like?

What do you wish I would ask you so that I can be a good teacher for you?

What makes a weekend day great for you?

What new thing did you find in Johnston Hall?

What is your favorite song right now and why? Embed a YouTube video of the song below, like this:

Anything else to add?

Finally, include a photo of yourself in your Medium post so I can start putting faces to names.