How to teach a good first day of class — from chronicle.com by James Lang
Four Key Principles | Before the First Day | The First Day of Class | After the First Day | Resources
Excerpt (emphasis DSC):
Do not begin the first day of the semester by immediately handing out the syllabus. Instead, spark their curiosity about the content first, and then demonstrate — with a review of the syllabus — how the course content can help satisfy that curiosity.
From DSC:
I think what’s also implied here is putting one’s case forward about how the content is ***relevant*** today.
Also this is a good practice to do as well, but for the end of the term/semester/quarter/whatever:
As we careen toward the end of the semester, take a moment to reflect: What was the best new thing you tried this semester? Mine was recording and posting to the LMS five-minute video overviews for each week–casual, just me and the laptop camera–on Sunday evenings. #teaching
— James M. Lang (@LangOnCourse) December 10, 2018