Up Next in ENGL 1500/2500: Relentless Welcome

In their 2020 book, “Relationship-Rich Education: How Human Connections Drive Success in College,” Peter Felten and Leo M. Lambert emphasize the concept of relentless welcome, which they describe as, “practices of deep caring and genuine welcoming that happen in powerful ways every day on college campuses.” It is also a pedagogical approach to creating supportive and responsive learning environments. Because ISUComm Foundation Courses are relatively small, instructors have the privilege and responsibility of knowing all of our students’ names–and using them! Below is an activity that could be implemented throughout the semester to help instructors and students remember each other’s names and faces.

Beyond Introductions

Purpose of the activity

To create a platform where students introduce themselves to their peers and the instructor. To create a fun and engaging way to get to know each other.

Materials or resources needed

A shared digital platform (e.g.,Padlet or other unlimited gallery tool) where students can post images and text.

Description of the activity

• Share the Padlet link with students and ask them to create a post introducing themselves to the class.
• To initiate the activity and show an example, you are also encouraged to share as the instructor.
• Invite students to share a few details about themselves, such as their interests, hobbies, academic goals, or something they would like their classmates to know.
• Ask students to read their classmates’ posts and comment on at least two posts.
• Encourage students to make meaningful comments by asking a question, making a connection, or responding to something they found interesting.
• Ask students to reply to the comments they receive and continue the conversation with their classmates.
• Invite students to revisit the Padlet throughout the first few weeks of the semester as they get to know one another and build a sense of classroom community.
• Find ways to connect the Padlet gallery to in-class activities so students can make connections with each other while they are in the classroom together.

Potential adaptations

• Use a different digital platform (e.g., Canvas discussion board or Google Docs) instead of Padlet.
• Adapt the introduction prompt based on the instructor’s goals for the class community.
• For a more casual introduction, use fun or low-stakes prompts (e.g., a favorite food, hobby, or place).
• For a more academic focus, ask students to connect their introduction to their previous writing experiences or goals for the course.
• Instead of requiring students to comment on two posts, adjust the number of interactions based on class size.
• Use a “question of the week” or similar follow-up prompt to keep the Padlet interaction going throughout the semester.