Interact with Students by Name

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What is this connection?

Interact with students by name.  Learn your students' names and begin using them on the first day of class and throughout the quarter.

Outcomes:

After exploring resources in this module participants will be able to:

  • Explain the importance of using the students' names to building connections with them
  • Identify ways to learn about your students in different modalities
  • Summarize ways to help students learn each others' names

Let's read!

Why this connection works:

Maslow's hierarchy of needs  tells us that  belonging and acceptance must come before esteem (including academic achievement) and sense of accomplishment.  For students to engage in academic achievement, they must first have their needs for belonging and love met. 

pyramid of Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Maslow’s Hierarch of Needs diagram Links to an external site. by BetterBizIdeas Links to an external site. is in the Public Domain Links to an external site.

 

Evidence from high-enrollment courses Links to an external site. tells us students who perceive instructors know their names feel more valued, feel more invested in the course, and feel enhanced confidence in the course material.

 

Interact with Students by Name.

Be willing to engage with students informally, which is especially important to students of color.   It begins with learning a little bit about each student, starting with their name.

Learn your students’ names and begin using them on the first day of class and throughout the quarter.

Whatever approach you decide to use for learning and using students’ names, be sure to help students learn other students’ names, too.  It's important for students to be able to interact with each other, and part of the comfort level of being able to do that involves them knowing who each other are, and being able to address each other in a personal manner, by using their name.   

The suggestions below offer ideas on beginning to build these personal connections with students, starting with their name.  

All Modalities

Ask each student to share their preferred name as part of course introductions.  Pronunciation is critical!  Make sure students know that you know this, and then work together to get the pronunciation correct (see modality specific ideas below).

In addition to their name, encourage students to share something about themselves that will help you (and other students) engage with them on a level beyond the learning that typically takes place in class. Students can share a passion or talent, something they enjoy doing outside of school,  their favorite book, author, movie....the list goes on.  The point is to be able to begin building relationship by sharing something outside of academic matters. Harris & Wood (2020) found students feel well-cared for when instructors know their academic goals, career goals, and life aspirations, so consider asking for these as well.

When you interact with students,  insert their name where it feels natural/conversational.

Online/Hybrid Modalities

Following are some suggestions for learning and interacting with students by their name:

Zoom

  • Greet students by name as they join the Zoom session. Using the Waiting Room can help you manage this.
  • Encourage students to use each others’ names in  Zoom chat, or breakout rooms
  • Encourage students to change display name to preferred name in Zoom
  • Use the student's name when addressing them in emails, voicemails, or texts
  • Use students' names when students ask a question or respond. When two students speak at the same time: "Go ahead, [Name]." Then, "Okay, [Name], please share."
  • Ask students to say their names (first name only is okay when recording) when they contribute to the discussion.

Canvas

  • When replying to students in the discussion board or making grading comments, address the student by name
  • Encourage students to use each others’ names in the discussion board
  • Canvas profiles: Students can upload a photo (or avatar, in case they don't choose to post their photo) to their Canvas profile.  
  • Have students record an introductory video, sharing responses to personal interests, academic and career goals, life aspirations

Face-to-Face

Here are some ideas for learning and interacting with students by their name:

  • Have students write down phonetic pronunciations for their names on the first day and collect them
  • Cut up old file folders (often available in faculty offices) are great for use as name/table tents in class. On the first day, ask each student to write their preferred name on the name tent (front and back, so other students behind can learn names as well).  At the end of class, collect all the name tents. Quiz yourself by passing them back as best as you are able at the beginning of the next class session. Repeat use of the name tents until you (AND the students) know the students’ names. Note: Hold on to the name tents for days when guest facilitators come to class.
  • Use index cards; each student writes their name, pronouns, pronunciation tips, a personal factoid or two, and inserts their picture. One Highline  instructor collects and uses them as ‘flash cards’ to memorize information about students. She also uses flash cards in class...lays them out on podium, turns card over as she calls upon students to track interactions.
  • On Zoom, everyone can see their classmates’ names on the screen.  When we are back face-to-face, talk about how helpful that was...because now they are just looking at the back of someone’s head and don’t know their name. Encourage them in their efforts to learn each other's names.

Reference:

Harris III, F., & Wood, L.  (2020, March 27). Employing Equity-Minded & Culturally-Affirming Teaching Practices in Virtual Learning Communities [Webinar].  CORA Learning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMrf_MC5COk&t=19s