The First Day of Class
Todd Zakrajsek, Director, FaCIT

In many respects, the first day of class is the most important day of the entire semester. It is certainly the only chance you will have to make a good first impression. In preparing for that first day, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First and foremost, use this time to set the stage for what will happen in the course. If you plan to use group work, then be sure to have the students work on a small task in a group. If you value their opinion and expect to call on students during the semester, then ask them for input regarding the class that very first day. If you want them to see how the topic relates to their lives, use a few good application examples. Essentially, show them what the[ class will be like, don’t just tell them. Actions speak much louder than words.
Following are a few additional considerations for the fist day of class:

This is not a throwaway experience. It is a grave waste of class time to read the syllabus to the students and let them go early. The minutes at the end of class in which you dismiss students early are as valuable as those later in the semester when you may run out of time to cover a given topic.

Include the students into the class. Ask them why they are in the class, what they expect to learn, how you can best facilitate their learning, or anything else that will let them know that you value their contribution in the class.

Decide how much to tell them about you. It is a good idea to give students a quick summary of your background. This is not to impress them, but to give them an idea of who you are. I would NOT suggest you be really hard on them the first day with the option of lightening up later. At the same time, be serious about the class and content. Treat the students with respect and let them know you take the subject seriously. Also, if the subject matter excites you, let that show. Students find courses more interesting when taught by someone who finds the topic interesting.

Arrive early, especially on the first day. It is actually good to arrive early every day. Take a few minutes to talk to a couple of students before class about general topics. This lets students know you care about them as individuals and is often fun and interesting. It also helps you to calm down a bit before starting the actual class period.

Cover the course basics, such as the text, grading standards, scoring rubrics, and civility in the classroom. In my classes, after I talk a bit about what behaviors I would NOT like to see in class (talking on cell phone, arriving late, criticizing others who have different views, etc.) I ask students what behaviors they would NOT like to see from me. The list can be startling (“please don’t tell me I am stupid if I get something wrong,” “please give as much notice as possible if canceling a class,” etc). For the most part, I have found the student’s requests VERY reasonable, and they love the fact you respect them enough to ask.

Offer some advice regarding how they can do well in the class. You can greatly increase student learning by sharing some of your tips for learning new material. They may not do everything you suggest, but you are in a perfect position to help student figure out how to learn the material in your class. The motivated students will be particularly pleased with this information.

Give an assignment due the second day of class. This shows students you are serious about the course and gets them into the habit of completing work for the course. If your syllabus is already set, simply ask the students to write about past learning experiences and what they feel will help to make this a great class. The point is to have the students turn in something.

Expect to be nervous. Over 20 years of teaching and I still get nervous on the first day of class. I don’t know if that feeling will ever go away or even if I want it to go away. The point is, don’t be concerned if you feel nervous that first day.

Additional resources pertaining to the first day of class are available on the Faculty Center for Innovative Teaching’s webpage.