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August 16, 2007
What to do the first day of class...
Every prof has their own style, of course. Some barely show up the first day, while others keep the class late. Still others seek to use the first day to define the students' feelings about the class (ie, fear). From what I have seen, there are three basic ways to approach the first day of class in college or graduate school (the second of which is the one I have usually chosen):
1) The Traditional Method.
Hand out the syllabus. Intone some elementary rules for class. Perhaps introduce self and others. End early. Admittedly, this bare-bones approach has some advantages-- especially at schools where people are class-shopping early in the quarter.
2) The Special Method.
Introduce themes of the class in a dynamic way. Illustrate with stories. Use some reading to make the point. Call on students to help them define the broad messages of the class. End on time.
3) The Regular-Day Method.
Treat the first day the same as every other day-- use readings and call on students to cover the first full day of doctrinal material. End on time or a little late.
-- Mark Osler
August 16, 2007 | Permalink
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I'd be interested in hearing about anyone doing anything truly innovative the first day. A guest speaker? A movie? A field trip?
Posted by: Doug B. | Aug 17, 2007 10:38:32 AM
Particularly for first year students, I think it is very important to "do some law school" the first day. So whether I am discussing broad themes or going over the syllabus, I arbitrarily set a deadline for myself about halfway through the first class period and move on to actual course material. I then return to the introductory comments at the next class meeting. I think it's good for students to get their feet wet and to see the professor's style in running the class. Obviously these arguments apply in slightly modified ways to upper-level classes as well (perhaps even more so, in assisting the students in their "shopping process"). My co-author Kevin O'Neill and I discuss various first-day approaches in the draft article posted on ssrn - Strategies and Techniques of Law School Teaching; A Primer for New (and Not So New) Professors.
Posted by: Howard Katz | Sep 8, 2007 11:50:17 AM
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