How to Plan an Engaging First Day of Class

<p>In this solo episode of The Prof Talk Pod, host Becky Achen revisits planning for the first day of class and argues that “syllabus day” is a missed opportunity to build buy-in, set the tone, and help students feel excited to return. She emphasizes that while the syllabus and clear expectations matter, professors also need to communicate the course’s value proposition and show up with energy, especially amid add/drop churn. Becky suggests using intentional, connection-building activities, such as a well-designed icebreaker, collaborative creative tasks, bingo, course-related board games, or a Jeopardy-style knowledge game, to help students trust each other sooner. She also recommends highlighting key syllabus sections (like late work and generative AI policies) and giving an assignment roadmap tied to learning objectives so students see how the course fits together.</p>