The First Day of Class

1. The First Day of Class How to start things off right… Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

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 Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

3. The First Day • Often on the first day instructors: • Hand out the syllabus • Present an overview • Begin lecturing OR dismiss the class early Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

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? Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

5. The First Day • Promote a constructive learning environment • Now…how do you do it? Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

6. The First Day • First impressions • Self introduction • Student introductions • Administrative tasks • Expectations • Do something substantive • And remember…be enthusiastic! Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

7. First Impressions • Appearance is your first impression • Casual emphasizes your accessibility • Formal stresses your professionalism • If you have any doubt about commanding your class’s attention, dress more formally • Many instructors start formal and progress to more casual Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

8. Introduce Yourself • Name • What you want to be called • Contact information • Professional information • Background, research interests • Personal information Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

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 Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

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 Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

11. Introduce Course • Syllabus • Topics to be covered • Exams • Grading • What’s exciting about it • How it will be useful…near term and long term Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

12. Expectations • Classroom behavior • Attendance • Quality of work • Level of academic expectations • Workload • Class participation • Work in groups Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

13. Things Not to Do • Do not: • Neglect the real reason you are there • Be too affected by students’ attitudes Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

14. References • ctl.unc.edu/fyc1.html • teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/firstday.html • depts.washington.edu/cidrweb/TLBulletins/1(3)FirstDayofClass.html • www.hcc.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/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/guidebk/teachtip/dayone.htm Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

15. References • cstl.syr.edu/Cstl/T-L/1_day.htm • www.northwestern.edu/graduate/TAHandbook/III/firstday.html • www-ctd.ucsd.edu/resources/teaching_tips/firstday.htm • cte.uncwil.edu/deskpress/syllabus/day1.htm • www.ku.edu/~cte/resources/teachingtips/firstday.html • www.csuohio.edu/uctl/tchtips1.html • www.psu.edu/celt/PST/firstday.html • www.hcc.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/dayone.htm Gateway Engineering Education Coalition

16. References • www.acs.ohio-state.edu/education/ftad/Publications/firstday.html Gateway Engineering Education Coalition