Great beginnings

1
Great beginnings
2
Getting your class off to a great start

• When students know what to expect they can direct
  their energy more productively. An important
  function of the first days meeting in any class
  is to provide this structure (McKeachie, 2002).

3
Things you can do on the first day

• Break the ice
• Create a positive learning environment
• Introduce course content

4
Break the ice

• Learn students names.
• Invite students to learn a little bit about each
  other.

5
Introduce course content

• Introduce the syllabus.
• Discuss the structure of the course.

6
Intergrate Active Learning

• Display a question or problem in full view of
  gathering students.
• Give our a pre-class activity (unscramble words,
  find the errors in a document, solve a math
  problem, define or translate vocabulary words,
  complete an unfinished poem).

7
Create a positive learning environment

• Talk about your teaching style, how you will
  conduct the course.
• Discuss your expectations of students.
• Explain your policies with regard to attendance,
  grading, late work, academic dishonesty

8
Works Cited
McKeachie, W.J. (2002). McKeachies teaching
tips Strategies, research, and theory for
college and university teachers, 11th ed.
Boston Houghton Mifflin. Silberman, M. (1996).
Active learning 101 strategies to teach any
subject. Boston Allyn Bacon