Impressions

They say you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Whether it's face to face in a personal environment like a traditional classroom, or transmitted through satellite and electronic signals onto a computer for an online class, they always make an impact regardless of the communication means. So does the type of environment we’re in lend an advantage in how a first impression is made, regardless of the circumstances by which they’re created?

Traditional classes offer lots of opportunity to leave multiple first impressions. Students get to physically meet and interact with new people everyday, and they are continuously put in the position to do so both in and outside of the classroom. Though classrooms don’t always offer a great deal of flexibility, or the best circumstances for students to leave these impressions behind, they generally produce a fair and honest idea of who we are. Yet, as students are continually interacting with new people, these impressions can become somewhat subjective to the observer, who is likely to be someone difference each time class is attended. On another hand, additional optimal opportunities arise by simply walking across campus. Social groups, teams, and recruiters roam the campus ground presenting themselves to students. They offer plenty of chance for students to get involved when and where they feel comfortable enough to imprint and expose themselves honestly and confidently.

First impressions through online classes are more manageable then traditional classes. They are controllable, tweak-able, and let’s face it, they have the potential to give a false or misguided representation of who we actually are. Unlike in the traditional classroom, the chances of meeting or actually developing some kind of personal relationship with the other students are more unlikely then not. Because of this, there is a higher chance for these impressions to be inconclusive and inaccurate. Online impressions are larger so to say, and can provide a deeper imprint and more detailed overview of who we are. However, they may not always be authentic. The computer screen acts as an excellent barrier between what students are, and what they want to be perceived as, honest or not.

Both traditional classrooms and online courses both have their advantages and disadvantages on how a first impression is made. What it really comes down to is the student.