Learning the names of your students is often cited as a simple way to create an inclusive environment in your classroom. It shows your students you care and helps to foster a sense of community. Furthermore, researchers have found that students have a more positive attitude about a course if they perceive that the instructor knows their name.
I’m the first to admit that I have a terrible memory and have a difficult time remembering the names of people I meet. This means I have to make a concerted effort to quickly learn students’ names when I teach. This can sometimes prove to frustrating and time consuming but it doesn’t have to be. Below are a few quick strategies I use to make learning names a little easier.
My Go-to Strategies for Learning Students’ Names:
Note Cards
This activity takes less than 5 minutes of class time and is easily one of the most effective ways I have found for helping me remember students’ names. In the past I have also asked students to share goals they have for the quarter and then redistributed the goals to the students during week 5 of the class so students could check to see if they were on track. This could be adapted for an online course by having students fill out an online form.
Distribute note cards on the first day of class. Ask each student to write the following: their name (and how to pronounce it), preferred pronouns and anything else they may want you know. Collect the note cards and compare them with your classlist and student photos (available in campus connect) until you learn the names.
Name Tents
This is even easier than note cards and serves as a quick way to help students learn each other’s names as well. If you choose to collect the name tents at the end of each class period you can also them as a simple way to track attendance.
Have students make name tents using cardstock or reusable tents on the first day of class. Either collect the name tents to redistribute during future classes or instruct students to bring their tents back for every class.
Icebreakers
They are cheesy and, sometimes, a little goofy but they work! Lansing Community College’s Center for Teaching Excellence website offers over 30 icebreakers to choose from. My favorite – the Syllabus Icebreaker is described below. This activity also helps to make sure students actually review your syllabus.
Have students get into groups of three to five and introduce themselves. Following introductions, have each group generate a list of five to eight questions they have about the class. The instructor then hands out the syllabus and the groups go over it together to answer their questions. Upon completion of the small group activity, the class then reconvenes and the groups ask any questions that were not addressed in the syllabus.
Interested in Learning More?
Looking for more ideas on how to get to know your students better or fostering inclusive learning spaces? Check out the resources below.
First Day of Class Teaching Guide
This guide available on the DePaul Teaching Commons offers activities and strategies to make your first day of class go smoothly.
All DePaul faculty and staff members are invited to register and submit proposals for the annual Teaching and Learning Conference. The theme of this year’s conference, Better Together: Creating Inclusive Learning Environments, challenges us to reflect on the range of our students’ diversity and how we account for it in our teaching practices as we strive to create learning communities that are both welcoming and academically challenging.