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This Week's Topic Tips for the First Day Beginnings are important. The first class sets the tone for the entire course and lets students know what to expect. This week we focus on tips to help you make the most of the first class. This Week's Tips The First Day (Monday) The first day of class is the time to establish the tone for the rest of the course. It is the first impression students get of the course and the day they decide whether they like or dislike the course and the instructor. These tips will help you hit the ground running: Involve students quickly. Have students introduce themselves and their expectations for the course. Introduce yourself, establish rapport, and let students know your expectations of them. Establishing a Positive Beginning (Tuesday) Students begin class filled with a mixture of anxiety and excitement. You can help students relax and direct their excitement toward enthusiasm for the course. These tips will show you how: Relax and enjoy yourself; students follow your lead. Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the material. Talk about your experiences and your excitement about the course. Through open-ended questions, help students discover how the course will help them reach their goals. Introducing Yourself (Wednesday) Students are interested in who you are and why you are interested in the course subject. Consider: Why should students listen to you? How can you help support their learning? Ask yourself these questions and discuss your answers with students on the first day: What are your hopes for the students when they finish this course? How do you plan to help students reach these goals? What do you believe about teaching and learning? Introducing the Course and Texts (Thursday) Plan time for introducing the course materials and texts. Use the syllabus to introduce course materials, expectations, and assignments. Use these tips for a smooth first class: Go over what is useful in the text and how students can use it in their learning. Emphasize the parts of the text that will be most helpful to students. Clarify what parts of the text will be used for tests. Providing a Student Forum (Friday) Build an environment where students feel they have a stake in the class. Establish a willingness to make the class a learning experience for the students, even if this means changing some of the material. Check out the Download Depot for a questionnaire you can use, and follow these tips: Allow time for student questions and discussions. Introduce a student expectation survey (see the Download Depot). Give students about 15 minutes to fill out the questionnaire.
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