First Day Information
We all hand out syllabi and the like on the first day of class. I also include a course calendar (something recommended in the module) and all of the homework assignments that will be collected during the quarter. In addition, I email each student all of the homework documents. This has proven to be a GREAT help for students that need to miss a class when homework is being collected. In addition, I KNOW that students have received the assignments and have the means to turn them in on time.
Tasia,
Good idea and a great resource for your students. Thanks for sharing this strategy with us.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
My syllabus contains a link to a Google Drive folder that I create for the class - here I post every study guide and homework assignment. This is helpful to students who want additional copies of a handout or who miss class and need to be able to print their own copies.
Hi David,
Any type of reminders such as posting the syllabus is good because students can have "short" memories at times so they need all the reminders they can get.
Gary
I feel it would be a positive effect also to post the syllabus on the board in the classroom. For the students that lose their paper work or never check emails. Then they will still know the goals, objectives, and deadlines for the entire coarse
I think relaying the course to real life is vitally important, otherwise, the students may not feel that the course is worth taking. I try to find a way that the information that is being presented will be useful and pertinent to everyday life and to the career field.
I also find it helpful beside setting the tone on the first day of the class of expectations and requirements but also let them understand the reason of the expectations and requirements & to look at them as a tool to enhance learning thereby helping the students in the long run. Once this has been established, I don't hear any complaints. Lourdes
Hi Ellen,
This is a good reminder of how you are planning to communicate with your students. This way you maintain contact with your students for announcements and updates without having to take a lot of time from class time.
Gary
I agree that email is not always dependable. When starting a new course as I stress all the things that I commit to as their instructor (being on time, being prepared, being available, etc.), I also stress that I need them to commit to checking school email at least once each day. It doesn't always work, but at least they know that's my main form of communication and they need to be on the lookout.
Hi Karen,
Great bridge between the classroom and real life. They get a lesson in real life while they are getting settled into the course and then the requirements and expectations of the course a bit later. Nice ice breaker plus application.
Gary
On the first day in my fashion design courses I bring in 10 different industry related magazines that are targeted for niche markets (example: Latina ,Gothic Beauty ,More , Threads , Etc)Usually the students have never seen or read these publications and I have them read a article then answer about 5 questions. This is the first 20 min of class. Then we all talk about the articles ,how it relates to design and important points in the article that they can find inspiring as a student. The students are usually more relaxed after this exercise and they have learned something new/industry related and maybe even outside of the box. Then we go to the syllabus and they can see the relationship between the content we will cover and other areas of the industry.
Hi Ana,
You are dead on with your sharing of expectations, requirements and information about the course right up front. As humans we all want to know what is going to happen next and through the syllabus,etc. you are doing that for your students. They then can concentrate on getting their questions answered about the course and get settled into the learning environment.
Gary
I find it easier to set all expectations in the first day of class. The syllabus, addendum and calendar are very precise and the students know exactly what to expect in my classes.
They seem to appreciate that.
I always use the first day to introduce myself and explain the goals and objectives of the course and I also use the first day to get to know the students.
Hi Lawrence,
You have to be the learning leader if you are going to manage the behavior of your students. By setting a positive tone for your students you will be able to get them focused on their learning.
Gary
You need to take comtrol of the class the first few minutes of the class or they will not respect you
Hi Steven,
Good plan for how you are going to share course expectations and requirements with your students. By using all of the methods you mentioned you are helping to reduce confusion and complaints about not knowing deadlines.
Gary
Using email has been really helpful, but now it seems a chore to get students to look at their school email sometimes. Is anyone using other communications methods-texting, tweeting, facebook?
