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First-Day Activities
(15 January 2007)
On the first day of class, we hand out the
syllabus, take a few questions, maybe lecture on some introductory
material, and then send the antsy students on their way, right?
Not according to Peter Frederick, Professor of
American History and Cultures, Wabash College, whom Hannah Schell
and I met last June at the ACM Teaching Partners Workshop (Bjorklunden
Retreat Center, 12-16 June 2006).
First-Day Suggestions:
Peter argued, convincingly, that activities on the
first day establish expectations and tone for the rest of the
semester; and, he encouraged us, again convincingly, to use
interactive, content-based activities on the first day. In
particular, Peter suggested to us:
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On the
first day, students are concerned about the following: What is
the class about? Who are you (the instructor)? What are the
other students in the class like? Make sure to include an
activity that addresses these concerns and provides them with a
chance to get to know each other and to begin forming a
community of learners within the classroom.
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Data show
that students who participate on the first day participate
throughout the semester. They need to hear their own voice on
the first day.
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Do
something that immerses them right away in the discipline. Make
sure to use the entire class time. Have a real class, and do
some actual work with the course content. This sends the message
that every class meeting is important.
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Rituals--something you do at every meeting--for beginning class
can be an effective way to get students focused and centered.
Show up early and chat with students; begin class with an image
that is related to the course and have them relate to it; begin
class with a relevant story, etc.
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Develop an
exercise that will get every student to leave the first class
with a core concept, metaphor, or image clearly in mind.
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For other interactive, collaborative classroom
activities, adaptable to any discipline, see
Hannah's handout.
Also, please contact either
Steve Price or
Hannah Schell, if you have any
questions or would like further information.
Good luck getting started with your semester! |
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