How Can I Use the First Day to Set the Tone for a Semester of Learning?

Beyond reviewing the syllabus and procedures, instructors often cut the first day of the semester short. However, the first day of class is your prime opportunity to make an impression for the entire semester!

This 20-Minute Mentor provides practical strategies to share important course information, capture students’ interest and intention, create opportunities for interaction, and create an invested community for the remainder of the semester. This program incorporates specific strategies that can easily be integrated into any course, and techniques that stimulate a first-day environment that allows students to familiarize themselves with each other, the instructor, and the content of the class in a fun and interactive manner.

Learning Goals

After viewing this Magna 20-Minute Mentor, participants will be able to:

• Have a structure for the first day that includes information, investment, interaction, intention, and interest
• Learn several ice-breaker activities to build student-student and student-teacher engagement
• See the connection between first-day activities and semester-long commitment to learning

Topics Covered

• Getting students to really read the syllabus
• First day strategies: Inform, Invest, Interact, Intention, Interest
• Group activities for student engagement

Audience

This program will benefit:

• Faculty
• Instructional Designers
• Faculty Developers

Product Code: PM22LA