The first day of classes can often be a challenge for instructors. In light of that, and to help all instructors out, my educational development colleague Syuzanna Sahakyan, M.A., and I (Brent A. Anders, Ph.D.) created the following infographic:
How to Succeed on the First Day of Classes: 5 Tips – the first day of classes really does set the tone for the rest of the semester or school year, so ensuring a good initial first day is crucial. The following useful tips were put together by guidance and research from multiple learning scientists and some recommendations from the Chronicle of Higher Education (Ardila-Mantilla, 2021; Lang, 2019; Petchame et al., 2021). These research-backed tips will assist you in creating a special and impactful first-day impression with your students.
TIP 1: Create a positive first impression about the course: Use the first day to spark students’ interest and curiosity. Increase motivation by explaining the relevancy of the course in a friendly and encouraging way; this also helps make you much more approachable. Be sure to also highlight the valuable skills and knowledge they will acquire throughout the course.
TIP 2: Introduce yourself effectively: Your introduction should be brief but comprehensive. Consider the following points:
- What characteristics should you convey about yourself and what would be the best way to convey it (images, video, speech)? – Make it impactful/memorable.
- Highlight your relevant qualifications and experiences – help them build their confidence in you.
TIP 3. Clarify learning objectives and your expectations: Clearly laying out expectations starts to orient students toward the kind of effort, learning, performance, and classroom behaviors you expect from them; be sure to not just be implicit but also very explicit and clear. Ensuring that they know the requirements and calendar of events, assignments, tests, etc. will help them use their time more productively.
TIP 4. Present the syllabus and set the tone for the course: Spend some time walking the student through the syllabus and then start the actual teaching (do not spend the entire first class session just going over the syllabus, just hit the highlights, ensure all have a copy: printed or digital, and require them to review all parts of the syllabus later on their own time). The way you engage students on the first day sends powerful messages about the level of involvement and interaction you expect from them as well as what they should expect from you (some instruction, but a lot of interaction: active learning).
TIP 5. Build a sense of class community: Develop the social dynamic of the classroom by incorporating group breakouts and icebreakers from time to time, especially at the beginning to help students get to know and value one another. This creates a sense of community, boosts the students’ energy levels to tackle the class material, and helps create a safe, diverse, and creative environment. Always refer to the class as a community to help build comradery and an emotional connection with one another and the topic being learned.
What additional tips would you give instructors to help ensure a great first day of class? Add your comments below.
References
Ardila-Mantilla, F. (2021). Todxs cuentan: building community and welcoming humanity from the first day of class. A conversation on Professional Norms in Mathematics, 140, 29.
Lang, J. M. (2019). How to teach a good first day of class. Chronicle of Higher Education. www. Chronicle.com
Petchame, J., Iriondo, Il, Canaleta, X., Riu, D., & Necchi, S. (2021). Engaging ICT engineering undergraduates in a management subject through first day of class activities: An empirical study. Sustainability, 13(13), 7440.