08/23/12 - Organizing the First Day of Class

Starting Off on the Right Foot:

Organizing the First Day of Class

Prof. Mark Urban-Lurain,

Center for Engineering Education Research

11:30-1:30, Thursday, August 23, 2012

Plant and Soil Sciences Building, PSS-1200

(Lunch Provided)

About the Session:

You never get a chance to make a second first impression, so what impression do you want your students to have from your first day of class? How can you use this opportunity to excite your students about the class and establish expectations? In this session, we will discuss your class and your goals for the class, and how you can make the most of this day. The session will provide you with some general guidelines and also give you the chance to tailor your first day to maximize the value for you and your students. You should bring your syllabus and other ideas or materials for your class.

About Mark Urban-Lurain:

Mark Urban-Lurain is an Associate Professor in the Undergraduate Studies Office and Center for Engineering Education Research in the College of Engineering at MSU. He has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and is responsible for teaching, research and curriculum development, with emphasis on engineering education and, more broadly, STEM education. His research interests are in theories of cognition, how these theories inform the design of instruction, how to best design instructional technology within those frameworks, and how the research and development of instructional technologies can inform theories of cognition. He is also interested in preparing future STEM faculty for teaching, incorporating instructional technology as part of instructional design, and STEM education improvement and reform.

Video of the Session

Starting Off On the Right Foot: Organizing Your First Day of Class from ANR Communications MSU on Vimeo.

Session Materials Available Below:

• PowerPoint slides

• Teaching Goals Inventory handout

• Best Syllabus handout

• First Day Tasks handout