The First Day of Class

1
The First Day of Class

• How to start things off right

2
The First Day

• Sets the tone for the term
• A good first day provides energy for days to come
• Recovering from a bad first day can take some
  time
• Students and instructors desire to make a
  connection on that first day
• Even experienced instructors can be anxious on
  the first day

3
The First Day

• Often on the first day instructors
• Hand out the syllabus
• Present an overview
• Begin lecturing OR dismiss the class early

4
The First Day

• Students want two things
• Information about the course
• Information about the instructor as a person
• Are you fair?
• Do you care about them?
• Do you care about the course?

5
The First Day

• Promote a constructive learning environment
• Nowhow do you do it?

6
The First Day

• First impressions
• Self introduction
• Student introductions
• Administrative tasks
• Expectations
• Do something substantive
• And rememberbe enthusiastic!

7
First Impressions

• Appearance is your first impression
• Casual emphasizes your accessibility
• Formal stresses your professionalism
• If you have any doubt about commanding your
  classs attention, dress more formally
• Many instructors start formal and progress to
  more casual

8
Introduce Yourself

• Name
• What you want to be called
• Contact information
• Professional information
• Background, research interests
• Personal information

9
Student Introductions

• Take roll/attendance
• Find out what they want to be called
• Introduction name game
• Students introduce themselves
• To the class
• To their neighbors
• Fill out information cards

10
Administrative Tasks

• Attend to students not on the roster
• Let people know which course/section this is
• Review academic misconduct policy
• Tell people what text(s) they will need and where
  they can be found
• Establish ground rules for the class

11
Introduce Course

• Syllabus
• Topics to be covered
• Exams
• Grading
• Whats exciting about it
• How it will be usefulnear term and long term

12
Expectations

• Classroom behavior
• Attendance
• Quality of work
• Level of academic expectations
• Workload
• Class participation
• Work in groups

13
Things Not to Do

• Do not
• Neglect the real reason you are there
• Be too affected by students attitudes

14
References

• ctl.unc.edu/fyc1.html
• teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/firstday.html
• depts.washington.edu/cidrweb/TLBulletins/1(3)First
  DayofClass.html
• www.hcc.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/g
  uidebk/teachtip/101thing.htm
• www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Columns/Getstart.html
• www.uiowa.edu/centeach/resources/ideas/greatbegin
  .html
• www.hcc.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/g
  uidebk/teachtip/dayone.htm

15
References

• cstl.syr.edu/Cstl/T-L/1_day.htm
• www.northwestern.edu/graduate/TAHandbook/III/first
  day.html
• www-ctd.ucsd.edu/resources/teaching_tips/firstday.
  htm
• cte.uncwil.edu/deskpress/syllabus/day1.htm
• www.ku.edu/cte/resources/teachingtips/firstday.ht
  ml
• www.csuohio.edu/uctl/tchtips1.html
• www.psu.edu/celt/PST/firstday.html
• www.hcc.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/g
  uidebk/teachtip/dayone.htm

16
References

• www.acs.ohio-state.edu/education/ftad/Publications
  /firstday.html