Teaching a Course

The first class meeting sets the tone for the semester. Be sure to model what class meetings will look like during the semester. If yours is a discussion-based class, be sure to include discussion. If group work is an important part of the course, have students get into small groups for an exercise. Remember that many students use the first class meeting to decide whether to stay in the class; give them accurate information on which to base their decision. 

The key to teaching a good first day of class begins well before the class meeting itself. A few days before the first class meeting, send your students a message through Canvas to introduce yourself, welcome them to the course, and let them know that you’re looking forward to working with them during the upcoming term. The message should be short and friendly: just a quick note to help get them excited for your class. 

Other things that are important to do during the first class meeting include: 

• Generate interest in the course content. What are some questions that this course enables students to answer? What will they be able to do or achieve as a result of completing this course? Showing your students how this course is relevant to their lives and interests will help them stay engaged through the semester. 

• Teach them something. Your students should leave every class meeting with a clear sense of what they’ve learned; this includes the first class. Students have many demands on their time, and sometimes these demands conspire to make it tempting to skip class. Demonstrate the value of coming to class by … 

• Build community. Students who feel connected to one another and to their instructor are more likely to succeed in class and to persist when things are challenging. Start building those connections from the beginning. Have students engage in a small-group exercise. Maybe you do an icebreaker and everyone shares with their neighbor what they’re hoping to learn in this class. Or you can have students get into groups of 3 or 4 to answer a challenging question you pose.  

• Set expectations. Let students know what to expect in this class. What materials will they need to have? What do they need to bring with them to class? What assignments will they have to complete? How will class be structured? Students will be curious about these things, and it’s important to give them the information so they can plan their semester accordingly.  

You may have noticed that this advice does not include “read the syllabus.” Going over the syllabus in detail with your students is not a productive use of the first class meeting. Instead, spend the last five to ten minutes of the class showing students how the course content and structure—as reflected in the syllabus—will help them learn the things you’ve built up their excitement about. Then direct students to review in detail the syllabus (which is posted on Canvas) and bring questions about it to the second class meeting. Consider including a syllabus quiz to encourage them to do so. 

For more detailed guidance on conducting a good first day of class, visit the Chronicle of Higher Education’s Advice Guide, How to Teach a Good First Day of Class.