Help Our Students Get Off to a Good Start
Help our students get off to a great start this fall! Some studies
suggest that students make up their minds about a class and instructor within
the first few minutes of class. If this is the case, then we must be sure to
make an excellent first impression. Students want reassurance that their
instructors will be knowledgeable, approachable, caring, effective, organized,
and prepared. Before the first day of class, you should have a few key
materials.
WebAdvisor Class Rosters: Print your rosters from WebAdvisor repeatedly over the first week of classes. Rosters change frequently, and correct rosters ensure that you are recording attendance and processing never attended and withdrawn students promptly.
Course Syllabi and Addenda: Students deserve to know what is expected of them from day one. Make sure they have access to the college-mandated course syllabus and your instructor addendum no later than the first day. Remember that the college has a mandated template for the addendum, as well.
Course Schedule: Students also deserve an idea of how the course will be organized. Give students access to a course schedule (as detailed as you see fit) no later than the first day of class. It is okay to make revisions to the schedule as the semester progresses.
D2L: Students will see their courses in D2L at midnight the day classes start. A good first impression includes what they see when they click on your course. Is it ADA accessible? Is it well-organized? Are the materials uploaded? Have you set up the grade book and attendance roster?
Icebreakers and Introductions: Students want to know that you are a real person who cares about them. One way to establish early connections is through an icebreaker activity. The bottom of this post lists some links to fun icebreakers. Not only do they want to know other students, but they also want to know you. Decide on what information you are comfortable sharing and establish clear channels of access and communication. Icebreakers and introductions also help you learn names faster, and we all know how important knowing their names can be to student success and engagement.
If you need any assistance setting up your course or class materials, the coordinators and department chair are always available. If you would like to utilize the D2L ADA Accessible course shells for your course, please email one of us, and we will import the shell into your course. Additionally, never be ashamed to ask for help, resources, or materials from any of the faculty in the department. We could not reach our students without your help, so you are an invaluable part of our team.
Icebreaker Resources:
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