Your Career: How to prepare for a good first day of class

What you do on Day 1 is important for the rest of the semester. ADVERTISEMENT [Your Career Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. What you do on Day 1 is important for the rest of the semester The first class meeting of a new semester is a big deal. You want to give students a taste of the engaging intellectual journey they will undertake in the coming weeks. In all of your careful planning, however, sometimes the logistics can get overlooked. Doing some advance work to familiarize yourself with the students, the space, and the technology available in the classroom will support the activities you have planned. Consider: - The students. Take a close look at the roster in advance. It may only list the class year and contact details of each student. But even such limited information can help you understand the level at which you should pitch the opening-day material. Your institution’s LMS also offers you opportunities to gather information from students. You can send a message, or post an announcement, before the first class asking them to introduce themselves — via a discussion post, a short video they make, or an email sent directly to you with some basic information about themselves. - The space. Go to your classroom a few days before each semester and get to know the space. Stand at the front and say a few words. Write something on the board, then walk to the back of the room or sit in a seat. Envision yourself in the shoes of your students. That familiarity can help alleviate any first-day nerves and also help you figure out what kinds of adjustments you have to make for group work or other class activities. - The technology. Test everything you might conceivably use throughout the semester. Plug in your laptop and make sure you know how to ensure it will appear on the classroom screen. If you’re going to show a video, check the volume. If you’re going to use polling or other activities that require students to use a connected device, ensure that the room has good wireless connectivity. And remember that teaching technologies are not just digital — any tool that will support your teaching counts as technology. Make sure the board erases and that you have a space for your materials at the front of the room. Continue reading: “[How to Teach a Good First Day of Class]( by James M. Lang Share your suggestions for the newsletter with Denise Magner, an editor at The Chronicle, at denise.magner@chronicle.com. If you’d like to opt out, you can log in to our website and [manage your newsletter preferences here](. ADVERTISEMENT SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. NEWSLETTER [Sign Up for the Teaching Newsletter]( Find insights to improve teaching and learning across your campus. Delivered on Thursdays. To read this newsletter as soon as it sends, [sign up]( to receive it in your email inbox. LATEST CAREER ADVICE, OPINION, AND NEWS ADVICE [How to Align Your Leadership Team in Troubled Times]( By Susan M. Snyder and Melody Rose [STORY IMAGE]( Having good people in charge isn’t enough. They need to actually be acting as a team. SPONSOR CONTENT | The University of Adelaide [University Merger Promises Transformational Opportunities for South Australia]( ADVERTISEMENT ADVICE [Who’s Afraid of Elaine Showalter Now?]( By Leonard Cassuto [STORY IMAGE]( A quarter century ago, an MLA leader was pilloried for advocating “career diversity” for English Ph.D.s. The discipline is finally catching up. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY [A Brief Guide to How Colleges Adjudicate Plagiarism Cases]( By Beth McMurtrie [STORY IMAGE]( It varies widely, and the definition is debated. THE REVIEW | OPINION [How Not to Defend Claudine Gay]( By Aleksandar Stević [STORY IMAGE]( She was the target of a political witch hunt. 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