Meeting the First Class

1.    Before the first meeting.

Ø    Familiarize yourself with the room that you will use: learn how to turn-on and lower lights, learn to use the technology in the classroom, think about how you would like to arrange the seats, test the blackboard, your overheads, or your PowerPoint presentations to insure that they are easy to see from all points in the classroom, test the difficulty of projecting your voice to the back of the classroom.

Ø    Order textbooks.

Ø    Place readings on reserve.

Ø    Reserve videos, audio-tapes, and all equipment necessary for the semester (obtain contact numbers of the person to call if any of the equipment fails during a class).

Ø    If necessary, obtain a key to the classroom and any cabinets that contain audiovisual tools that you will need.

Ø    Photocopy syllabus.

1.    Introductions and other icebreakers.  Remember, you're setting their expectations for the rest of the semester.  First impressions DO count.

Ø    Introduce yourself. (Be enthusiastic!)

Ø    Get them talking to you and to one another.

Ø    Start to learn names.

2.    Describe your course.

Ø    Give an overview of the course.

Ø    Include reasons why you find the material fascinating.

Ø    Get them excited about the material.

3.    Go over the syllabus with your students.

Ø    Stress your expectations for the course.

Ø    Give them an assignment for the next class meeting based on your syllabus.

4.    Begin

Ø    Even if you have only 5-minutes left in the class, do some real work--lecture, have a discussion, do a demonstration.