The first day of class is vitally important for establishing the atmosphere and norms of your course, and yet many instructors spend a significant portion of that period simply telling students the expectations for the course rather than showing them the ends of work and activities we expect them to perform in the course. This sets a false expectation for the class that can significantly impact students’ engagement and participation for the rest of the term.
In Spring 2021, the WAC Program hosted a LTC lunch that addressed ways to approach the first day of class that promote student engagement and model the expected behaviors for the course. The resources from that session are below.
The recording, alas, is lost to time due to user error by the WAC Director.
Slide Deck: Rethinking Day 1
Handout: Planning Your First Day of Class