Both college and graduate school have a similar first day of class, irrespective of the disciplines. The first day is usually an introduction class. 

Common Strategies for Teaching the First Day of Class

There are different ways to go about this. While some professors begin the lecture right away by going into the course content, others prefer to follow a more social strategy, using fun and team-building exercises like games, encouraging learners to know themselves, and bringing up discussions unrelated to the course. 

Some questions most professors ask on the first day of class are; what’s your name, discipline, year, and reason for being in the class? This serves as an introduction. Learners will have to provide info about themselves, and some professors may go to the extent of passing around an index card for each child to write down their contact info and answer a few questions like why they applied for the course? One thing they wish to learn or what they are concerned about? However, some professors just share the course syllabus and dismiss the class. 

The Syllabus

The course syllabus is usually shared on the first day. All professors do this, irrespective of how it is done, whether socially or by strictly paying attention to the course content or both. Many professors will examine the syllabus to a point. Others just read it, adding extra clarifications, while some draw the learner’s attention to the pivotal aspects. However, some professors neither examine, read nor say anything about the syllabus. They just share the syllabus expecting the learners to read it independently. Whatever approach or method your professor uses, reading the syllabus would benefit you since most educators have already spent a lot of time preparing the course outline.

What Then?

After sharing the syllabus, what happens next depends on the professor. Some would dismiss the class immediately, using only about half of the class period. And why is this done? Some of them might excuse that it is impossible to teach a class when the learners have not read, but this is not exactly true. The fact is that teaching a class of new learners who have no knowledge or background of the course is more challenging.

Professors may dismiss the class early because they are anxious, just like the learners are, as the first day usually affects individuals. Surprised that professors get anxious? Don’t be; they are humans too. The first day of class is usually stressful for professors, and most of them just want the day to end soon. After the first day, they can now return to their usual pattern of preparing lessons and teaching the class. Most committed professors dismiss the class early on the first day of school.

However, some professors begin teaching right from day 1, having the mindset that learning starts on the very first day and what happens on that day determines the learner’s attitude towards the course, and this will eventually affect the whole semester. 

In general, there is no proper or improper way to begin a class. But as a learner, you should pay attention to what the professor requires of the class on the first day as this will help you detect the kind of person your teacher is and might help you prepare for the rest of the semester.