To Get-to-Know-You or Not to Get-to-Know-You: A Two Phase Study of Initial Engagement Activities in the College Classroom

• In Event: Engaging Students in the College Classroom From Day One

Abstract

The pedagogy of classroom engagement influences instructors to become familiar with first day of class Get-to-Know-You exercises. While entertaining, the empirical value of these exercises is not well established. This study provides an analysis of Get-to-Know-You and Photo Roster activities by evaluating their effects over time. The Photo Roster yield higher levels of classmate liking, instructor liking, and classmate name recall as compared with students in the traditional Get-to-Know-You activity at either time.

Authors

• J. Kanan Sawyer, West Chester Univ

• Mary Braz, West Chester Univ

• Jennifer Babcock, West Chester Univ