Starting the class off right...
My wife has her PhD in educational psychology and always gives me advice to improve my teaching. One of her easiest suggestions concerns passing out the syllabus. She never passes out the syllabus first; too boring. Rather, she piques the students' curiosity by presenting some particularly interesting material first. Only later does she finally pass out the syllabus. This way, it gets the course off on a positive note...
Hi Thomas,
When you have earned respect and started developing rapport the other parts of the course start to fall in place. This is when you can walk them through the syllabus. Good point.
Gary
I couldn't agree more - a syllabus, in my eyes, means we are "down to business". We have the whole quarter to handle the business - let's spend some time building a great rapport first - the business will only get easier!
I, too, pull out all the stops on Day 1 -- visual aids galore and an over-the-top rah-rah for the course. "This is the BEST course ever!" I'm my course's biggest cheerleader. Yes, showing them why they are going to be better after the course than before is a great way to pique interest. Starting with the syllabus is not just boring but also imposing -- I want the students to feel like they can DO IT before I show them what they will be required to do.
Any ideas for websites or texts that feature ice breakers for classrooms?
Hi Jenny,
Sequencing of information is very important. You make a good point about keeping the attention focused on you and what is going on in the class before sharing printed material that might distract the attention of the students at a critical time.
Gary
I agree. If you give liturature out then the students focus on reading that and not on you, missing most of what is said. I always begin with ice breakers and something interesting about myself.This usually makes everyone comfortable and ready to listen to what the class is going to consist of.
Hi Nan,
I would definitely use some type of activity to get the students excited about chemistry. This will not only serve to motivate them but will also help to serve as an ice breaker. In order not to loose control once they are fired up I would ask them to make applications of chemistry to their lives. Have them bring in examples of how they are using chemistry to make their lives better. The key point is to show applications of chemistry outside of the classroom. This will help to keep them engaged during entire course.
Gary
Hello
I am going to be "the new instructor" for Biochemistry. I keep hearing from my school how students are afraid or not interested in Chemistry. I don't want that false start. I have been thinking about using something to get their interest in Chemistry...get them hook. Any suggestion?
My other concern is once I get them fired up would I loose control from then on?
Help!!!
Hi Amy,
It doesn't matter what age the students might be they still like to have fun and laugh. Teaching is serious business but we can have fun with our students while teaching. They learn so much more when they are comfortable and engaged in the class.
Gary
I agree with this idea and feel that oftentimes teaching needs to be entertaining to be engaging. At the last institution I was at, some instructors started students off with the game Two Truths and a Lie. Students get in groups and tell three things about themselves, two that are true, and one that is false. It inevitably leads to lively discussion because people tell things about themselves that are interesting or unique.
Hi Phil,
You are right about introducing a little fun and activity at the beginning and then lead them into the course content. This will help to keep them engaged and focused on what is going to come.
Gary
I agree with that approach. It's like writing an essay or a paper; you want to hook the reader, entice them to pursue the text. Often an icebreaker of some sort or fun introductions may help get the class started on a good tone.
Phil Lewenstein
Hi Kerry,
Look at it and see what you can come up with. Let me know what you discover in terms of creativity and format.
Gary
Hi Adam & Gary,
Interesting...as an Online Instructor, my courses already contain pre-set Syllabi.
I don't (not that I couldn't) do much with them--except point students to them--if questions arise.
I'm going to look into this more carefully since it you both feel that it has such creative potential!!!!
Hi Adam,
The approach your wife uses it an excellent one. It is the method I use as well. I like to have an ice breaker to get the students acquainted with each other and then move into an activity that is low stress, high success related to their field. This gets them talking about and using field related information and skills within the first few minutes. Then we move into the discussion of the syllabus and the course requirements.
Thanks for sharing this opening class method.
Gary
