"101 Things You Can Do the First Week of Class"
TFSC Newsletter: January 1997
GETTING STARTED ON THE RIGHT FOOT
- A dance lasts about three minutes whether you move fast or slow.
- The first day of class is your first dance with your students.
- The following ideas are suggestions to get you off on the right foot.
DIRECTING STUDENTS ATTENTION
- Start the class on time. Start the lecture with a puzzle, question, paradox, picture, or cartoon on slide or transparency to focus on the day's topic.
- Elicit student questions and concerns at the beginning of the class and list these on the chalkboard to be answered during the hour.
HELPING STUDENTS MAKE TRANSITIONS
- Hand out an informative, artistic, and user-friendly syllabus.
- Start laboratory experiments and other exercises the first time lab meets.
- Direct students to the Learning Skills Center for help on basic skills.
CHALLENGING STUDENTS
- Share your philosophy of teaching with your students.
- Tell about your current research interests and how you got there from your own beginnings in the discipline.
- Let your students see the enthusiasm you have for your subject and your love of learning.
PROVIDING SUPPORT
- Organize. Give visible structure by posting the days "menu" on chalkboard or overhead.
- Make appointments with all students (individually or in small groups).
BUILDING COMMUNITY
- Learn names. Everyone should make an effort to learn a few names.
- Find out about your students via questions on an index card.
- Solicit suggestions from students for outside resources and guest speakers on course topics.
INTRODUCTION ACTIVITIES
- Ask students to fill out index cards with their names, addresses and phone numbers as well as something about why they are taking the class and their interest in the subject. Also, ask for any information about themselves which might be helpful for you to know (sight or hearing problems, a preference for interactive learning).
- Have students pair up and introduce each other.
- Ask a short answer subject-related questions and ask students to give their names when they answer. Make the questions non-intimidating, such as "What do you like best about poetry?"
- Play a name game (yes, just like in elementary school...). Introduce yourself to a student, then introduce that student to someone sitting next to or behind him or her. Ask the student to repeat both names. Keep adding new students. This is quite fun and a good way to get to know each other.
- Do simple introductions - What is your name? Where did you come from? What do you plan to do with your education?
Ideas taken from "101 Things You Can Do The First Three Weeks of Class" reprinted by permission from The Teaching and Learning Center, University of Nebraska, Lincoln.