First Impressions Matter: Getting Your Course Off to a Great Start

Pharmacy Fika

We're gearing up for the fall semester and sharing ideas on how to get your class off to a great start. Can you make your syllabus more inviting (and less about asserting authority and power)? How about a brief, fun video introducing the important themes or critical questions you'll explore in the course? Can you engage students in a fun, energizing activity to kick things off? Are you courageous enough to allow students to ask you ANY question anonymously? The Fika Crew share their experiences. It's an experiment - try something new (TSN)!

• Introductions and Fika Sharing from 0:00 to 2:55
• Our Conversation about Getting Off to a Great Start starts at 2:57

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Resources

Wagner JL, Smith KH, Johnson C, Hilaire ML, Medina MS. Best practices in syllabus design. Am J Pharm Educ 2023; 87 (3): Article 8995.

Lang JM. How to teach a good first day of class. Chronicles of Higher Education - Advice Guide.

Taylor SD, Veri MJ, Eliason M, et al. The social justice syllabus design tool: A first step in doing social justice pedagogy. 2019: 5(2):132-166.

Smart S. A professor hid a cash prize on campus. All students had to do was read the syllabus. Cable News Network (CNN). December 18, 2021.

Wehler M. Using easter eggs to create engaging syllabi. OLT Faculty Development. April 29, 2019.

Guan S. Create a trailer ... for your course ... by yourself. IDDblog. July 25, 2016.

Banke R. Using small-group concept mapping for active learning. Kaneb Center, University of Notre Dame Learning. February 15, 2016.

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Not sure what fika is all about? Watch this brief video: How a Swedish coffee break can boost your wellbeing and performance.

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Got a great idea for a discussion topic? Drop us a line ([e-mail]) or leave us a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/PharmacyFika