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Teaching Tips and Techniques

CTD Home > Teaching Assistant Resources > Teaching Tips and Techniques > The First Day of Class

The First Day of Class

Planning is the Key! Make sure that all administrative details have been worked out before the first day of class.

Provide:

  • Your name, your home telephone number (optional), your office location, your office hours, (make them reasonably accessible), and office telephone number (if you have one).
  • Your home department, its location, mail code, and telephone number
    make class objectives clear.
  • Details on how the class will be organized.
  • Provide a calendar of tests and papers (if possible).
  • Know the time and location of alternate sections.

Discipline:

  • Explain the rules of the class and make them clear from the start.
  • Resolve conflicts outside of class (e.g. during office hours).

Time Management:

  • Plan your course, then plan each section with the final goal in mind.
  • Know the material as best as you can.

Organization And Presentation Of Material:

  • Organize material for the students, working toward stated goals.
  • Vary the format by which material is presented.
  • Let the material and/or objectives dictate the format used.
  • Modulate and project your voice.
  • Summarize periodically.

Blackboard Techniques:

  • Don't talk and chalk.
  • Start with a clean board, and write neatly.
  • Define any abbreviations.
  • Create a logical structure that emphasizes key ideas.
  • Be aware of students' sight lines to the board
  • Periodically move about so you don't continually block the same students

Class Discussions:

  • Arrange furniture so it is conducive to the chosen format.
    Make eye contact and be aware of your body language.
  • Make an effort to learn names.
  • Keep the objectives for the discussion clearly in mind; when the class digresses too far, refer back to the objectives.

Grading:

  • Make criteria and expectations clear.
  • Be consistent.
  • On subjective tests grade question by question rather than paper by paper--be prepared to explain your grading criteria.

Ethics:

  • Sexual harassment is explicitly and strictly forbidden.
  • Avoid ethnic and sexual humor, and treat your students as you would like to be treated.
  • Be watchful of those who do not generally contribute to discussions and find a way to reach them.

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Center for Teaching Development
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Phone: (858) 534-6767
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