Adapted from an article by Joyce Povlacs Lunde
Teaching and Learning Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
UCTL Number 2 August 1998

Introduction

Beginnings are important. Whether you are teaching a large introductory course for freshmen or an advanced course for majors, it makes good sense to start the semester off well. Students decide very early whether they like the course, its contents, the teacher, and their fellow students.

Here are some ideas to help you create the best possible environment for learning early in the course. The first four weeks of a course are especially important, studies say, in retaining capable students. Remember, even after the syllabus is fixed you can usually make adjustments.