There are several ways that instructors can turn “syllabus day” into a more engaging course kick-off, writes Ashley Mowreader of Inside Higher Ed. Mowreader draws on recommendations and tips from faculty across the US on how to best use the first day of class to set the tone for the course and make expectations clear. These tips include using ice-breaker activities to promote positive engagement between students and the instructor, creating a syllabus assignment or an in-class game that encourages students to use the syllabus, and developing a classroom community agreement with students. Mowreader concludes by noting that reconfiguring syllabus day also gives instructors the opportunity to foster student curiosity and engagement by beginning to cover course material on the first day of classes.
