Linking the First Week of Class to End-of-Term Satisfaction: Using a Reciprocal Interview Activity to Create an Active and Comfortable Classroom

Abstract

We present a reciprocal student-instructor interview activity as a means for establishing a positive classroom environment on the first day of class. This activity allows the instructor to clearly and concisely communicate the course practicalities to students while simultaneously providing students with the opportunity to share their course-related goals and concerns in an open and supportive environment. Previous research suggests that this activity is associated with many positive short-term outcomes, including initial changes in student comfort in the classroom. This article provides instructors with detailed information for conducting the activity and explores the degree to which changes in comfort are related to end-of-term student satisfaction. Data were collected from 77 students before and after they participated in the reciprocal interview activity during the initial class sessions and at the end of the term. Changes in student comfort were positively correlated with student satisfaction with the instructor and course. These findings support the use of this reciprocal interview activity in creating and maintaining an effective learning environment.