The first day of class offers an exciting opportunity to connect with your students, lay out the expectations that lead to a successful semester, and help students understand why your course matters to them. But what strategies can you use to do this besides the usual syllabus review? Here are five simple steps to incorporate for a strategic first day.
- Create interest in the course
You know that your course is important, so you might assume that students automatically feel the same way. But be honest: you’ve sat in a classroom before not knowing why the subject mattered at that exact moment, right? So how can you build student interest in your course? Introduce the topic using real-world scenarios and applications, let students brainstorm ways this class will help them grow and reach their goals, and address the big questions the class will answer during the semester.
- Offer opportunities for relationships to form
In Relationship-Rich Education, Peter Felten shares results of his research, which found that relationships are one of the best predictors of student success and satisfaction in higher education. To create relationships in your classes, incorporate ways students can start to get to know you and their peers. Icebreakers, small group activities, or a group photo for your Canvas home page are fun ways to start peer-to-peer connections. Introduce your subject matter background, your teaching principles, and share something about yourself that falls outside of academia. Want to know more about how faculty at Boise State are creating relationship-rich classrooms? Check out this blog post.
- Establish expectations
Now we get to the syllabus review! To help students know they can be successful in your course, be sure that your syllabus clearly and transparently outlines the expectations you have for them, and the expectations students can have of you. And don’t just talk about the syllabus on the first day; continue to refer to the syllabus throughout the course to remind students of the important contents.Â
- Assess prior knowledge
Knowing what your students’ knowledge base is, is very important in order to avoid miscommunication from the start. To gauge prior knowledge, identify the most important skills and knowledge that students need to bring to the class to be successful. Think about content information as well as learning skills, then develop a short survey that asks students about their confidence and experience regarding those skills and knowledge. Administer the survey and review the results before, during, or immediately after the first class session. If students show preparedness gaps, you can address them with supplementary material, video-recorded lectures, or an overview session to catch them up.
- Give students time to ask questions
The first day can be stressful for students and for you. Make sure to implement time for questions and reflections for a good start.Â
For other first-day-of-class ideas, please check out this list of Fabulous First Day Activities collected by the Boise State Center for Teaching and Learning. Happy first day!