Modified from: ESTABLISHING A COMFORTABLE CLASSROOM FROM DAY ONE STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF THE RECIPROCAL INTERVIEW Kim
Case, Robert Bartsch, Lillian McEnery, Sharon Hall, Anthony Hermann, and David Foster
Instructor-Student Interviews
Purpose: The following exercise is useful in setting the tone that this will be a collaborative course and helping ensure
that there is clarity regarding course expectations.
Supplies and Set up: Copies of the Interview sheet (on the next page): Students in groups of 4 or 5.
1. Ask groups of 4-5 students to interview each other using the questions in the Student Interview Guide and ask
them to write down the answers they uncover. After 10-15 minutes ask each group to nominate one member to be their
spokesperson, who will represent all of his/her group members’ opinions to the instructor’s questions. In a round robin
fashion lead a discussion on each of the questions.
2. Go over the syllabus
3. Have the students answer the questions in Student’s Interview Of The Instructor. Then in the same groups
discuss their questions and their concerns about being at UHCL. Have students attempt to answer each other’s questions
and select one question in each category that they would like to ask the instructor. Each group will nominate a
DIFFERENT member to be their spokesperson, who will ask the questions of the instructor.
4. Finally, have the spokesperson list the concerns mentioned by their group members. Point out how many of these are
shared. Mention campus resources available for alleviating these concerns.
Modified from: ESTABLISHING A COMFORTABLE CLASSROOM FROM DAY ONE STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF THE RECIPROCAL INTERVIEW Kim
Case, Robert Bartsch, Lillian McEnery, Sharon Hall, Anthony Hermann, and David Foster
Instructor’s Interview Guide
1. What are your goals for this course? To learn new skills? To become better educated? To learn the subject matter?
To fulfill a requirement? To get a good grade? To apply your learning to other aspects of your life? Something else?
2. How can the instructor best help you achieve your goals? Lectures, examinations, discussions, practice, office hours
(think back to excellent professors/courses you’ve experienced)?
3. What, if anything, have you heard about this textbook and/or course from others?
4. What reservations do you have about this course?
5. What is the best think that could happen in this course? What is the worst thing?
6. What resources do you bring to this course (e.g., prior experience, prior courses)?
7. What norms of behavior or ground rules should we set up to ensure that the course is successful (e.g., mutual
respect, question asking, punctuality, etc.?)
STUDENT’S INTERVIEW OF THE INSTRUCTOR
Note: It is important that you ask question that are of real concern to you at this point. Only in this way can potential
important problems or conflicts be identified and managed. Your reading of the syllabus as well as the instructor’s
interviewer questions may have pointed out important issues. Be sure to ask specific questions.
1. List one question you have about the course.
2. List one question you have about the instructor’s expectations of you.
3. List one question you have about the instructor or the instructor’s role in the course.
4. The instructor’s objectives for this course—what does he or she hope to accomplish?
5. Write one concern or anxiety you have about being at in college or UHCL?