Getting Started - Course Preparation

First Class Meeting

Arrive early to open classroom and create a welcoming atmosphere

• Prior to the first class meeting, contact your supervisor for the classroom door lock combination to ensure you’ll be able to access the room. Also, if security staff will need to open your classroom door, ask your supervisor how the communication with security needs to happen.
• When you arrive at the classroom unlock and prop open the door for ease of student access.
• Write on the board your name, course number/name, and the days and times of the class meetings.
• Greet students as they arrive. Saying “hello” or “good evening” sends each student a signal that you’re glad they’re in the class.

Start class on time

• Although there are likely to be some late students on the first night of class, you want to communicate that the class starts on time.
• At the end of the first class meeting, confirm with students what time the class will start at its next meeting.

Introduce yourself to the class

• Introduce yourself as “Mr./Mrs./Ms. (first and last name).” Inviting students to refer to you by your first name, although sounding friendly, may create problems for you later when you need their respect.
• Tell the students about your full-time job, academic background and something else about you. Be sure to say why you’re interested in teaching this course.

Student introductions and registration confirmation

Be sure to tell the class how you’re looking forward to working with them during the semester and that you expect it to be a good learning experience for all.

• If you want to encourage student interaction, then you can have them pair off, interview each other, and introduce their classmates to the entire class. Alternatively, you can simply have students introduce themselves to the class. Either way, you might want to list on the board the information desired for introductions; e.g., name, job, academic major and hobby. When each student is introduced show personal interest by asking a clarifying question or making a positive comment.
• As students are introduced, confirm their registration by checking the course roster. You should print your course roster from the Artemis Web page prior to coming to the first class meeting. Instructions for obtaining class rolls via Artemis are as follows:
  
1. Go to the Florida Community College home page
2. Look at Artemis Online Services - select “Employee Log On”
3. Log on by typing your FCCJ UserID and Password
4. Select “Instructor Schedules”
5. Select current academic term
6. Select “Class Rolls”
• If, after checking the roll, there are students present whose names do not appear on the course roster, communicate to them that they will need to contact the College’s registration office in order to be officially registered for the course.

Distribute and review course syllabus

• Go over the syllabus in detail, identify key points and provide examples, as appropriate.
• Emphasize the need to purchase the textbook as soon as possible and the importance of reading the assigned chapters prior to each class meeting.
• Review the course schedule for important dates, such as tests and holidays. Explain in detail any projects or assignments.
• Clarify the type of exam questions utilized, such as multiple choice, true/false and essay.
• Provide an opportunity for students to ask questions.

Begin coverage of course discipline information

• For one-hour class meetings there may not be adequate time to get into this information, but for classes scheduled to meet for longer periods it’s important to begin coverage of the course subject matter.

Clarify break schedule

• For classes scheduled to meet for short periods, such as one or one and one-fourth hours in duration, breaks are not necessary. Classes meeting for longer periods of time will need to have regular breaks.
• Let the class know when the breaks are going to occur each day/evening.

Present a positive and professional attitude

• Be sure to tell the class how you’re looking forward to working with them during the semester and that you expect it to be a good learning experience for all.

Role Model for future class meetings

• Whatever occurs during the first class meeting will often be expected for future class meetings. For example, if you truly want a lot of student interaction, then be sure to have some at the first class meeting. If you want students to come on time, then start on time.