Planning Your First Day of Class
Before your First Class
For those teaching in person, plan a visit to campus to:
- Identify and visit your classroom
- Login to the classroom podium with your fanshawec.ca login credentials
- Visit B2015 if you wish to collect whiteboard markers and others supplies you might need
- Visit the campus retail store or office supply store to purchase a presentation (slide) clicker (if desired)
Review important course details including:
- Course Outline and Course Plan posted on FOL
- Course dates – make sure they are adjusted on your FOL site to align with the current term dates (avoiding holidays and study days)
- Textbook
- Class list from FOL/WebAdvisor
- Any other course handouts and/or materials as necessary
- For online delivery, it is recommended to login minimum 5 days a week
Typical Classroom
Your First Class
Your opening first hour: A suggested agenda for the first class
Image Description
The image is divided into three columns, each representing a time segment and specific tasks for a successful first class.
- Column 1: Suggested Time – 10 Minutes (Introduce Yourself)
- Arrive on time.
- Introduce yourself in a friendly manner.
- Avoid revealing if it’s your first time teaching (with a smiley face note 😊).
- Indicate how students should address you.
- Confirm your office hours.
- Start setting classroom expectations, such as:
- Attendance policies.
- Appropriate use of cellphones.
Column 2: Suggested Time – 20 Minutes (Introduce Your Course)
- Show enthusiasm for the course.
- Provide an overview of the course, including:
- The course topic and purpose.
- Course expectations.
- Tips for succeeding in the course.
- Share information about the textbook.
- Remind students about academic integrity.
- Review the course outline and plan.
Column 3: Suggested Time – 15 Minutes (Get to Know Your Students)
- Spend time getting to know your students.
- Use ice-breaker activities to foster interaction.
- Try to learn students’ first names.
- Allocate time for students to ask questions.
Sample ice Breaker Activities
- Common Ground: In small groups, have students come up with 3-4 things that they all have in common, then have each group share their lists with the rest of the class.
- Two Truths and a Lie: Go around the class and ask each student to tell the class three statements about themselves. But here is the catch! Two statements must be true and one must be false (in no specific order). The other students must guess which is a lie or false statement.
Do’s and Don’ts for Teaching Adults
Do
- Be prepared for your lesson.
- Remind them of the lesson objectives and try to link them with upcoming assessments (whenever possible).
- Try to stay as enthusiastic as possible – smile and be friendly.
- Vary your tone, move around the room, and keep eye contact whenever possible.
- Engage your students with intriguing questions. Check on their understanding midway through the lecture.
- Rephrase the question if students don’t seem to understand instead of asking a different one.
- Address students with their preferred names (try your best to memorize their names).
- Give students an opportunity to answer questions (wait 15-30 seconds when you ask questions).
- Use humor sparingly.
- Utilize any virtual hours (and office hours) you might have in your course to students’ best advantage.
- Encourage other students to answer questions from their peers.
- Stay mindful of the time and keep track of what you need to cover.
- Recap lesson ideas, summarize, and connect with the next lesson.
- End the class 10 minutes before the hour.
Don’t
- Just read from PPT slides.
- Be rigid.
- Cut lecture times (or arrive late and leave early).
- Position yourself as ‘all-knowing’.
- Change/edit/modify/delete any assessments.
- Answer a question if you aren’t sure. Tell students that you will check and get back to them.
- Get off topic and lose focus.
- Overflatter students.
- Focus on a group of students and ignore the rest.
- Share personal contact information.
