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Overcoming Anxiety Home |
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Introduction |
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Preparing for First Day |
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Perceptions & Activities |
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On the First Day |
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Creating Excitement
Creating excitement the first day will translate to students an excitement that can last
throughout the term, and perhaps well into their lives. An exciting example or application
is a possibility, but regardless you should use some time to generate student interest in the course.
Ending the course with an unresolved question is one approach, as is introducing the material in
a visual and/or lighthearted manner. Talking about how you got interested in the material is a
nice way to get students excited about the material. Introduce controversy; praise specific aspects
of the course. One bit of advice to new faculty is to avoid apologizing for your newness. Although
it is okay to alert students to this fact (many will understand your situation), if used too much
many students will see it as an excuse for not being prepared.
A common misconceived expectation of first time faculty members is to impress the students with a
command of the material. Some of this attitude arises from our experiences getting a Ph.D. and
freshly facing our graduate committee, or from a research setting where demonstrations of the mastery
of the material are more necessary. Students rarely have the background necessary to distinguish
levels or mastery. This fear of a “lack of mastery” of the material often leads to undo stress and
distracts from the lectures. Instructors fall into lingo or do not provide enough detail to convey
complicated materials. It is much more important to convey a sense of accessibility at the students'
level and a sense of enthusiasm, expressing that you will help them become as competent as yourself
in the subject. This excitement can be demonstrated by talking about yourself and your experiences
with the subject material.
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Describe how you got interested in the materialList one or more real-life experiences that you have had with the subject material. For each experience, list how you think it might help your particular set of students and/or how it relates to material that will be covered during the semester/quarter. |