The beginning of the semester is a very important time; perhaps faculty are doing last-minute adjustments to the syllabus after meeting students for the first time, while some students are still switching classes.The first weeks can be a challenging time in normal conditions, but last week we got reminded that despite having instructional technology (i.e., Canvas, Google apps, etc) available to teach our classes, it is a good idea to be prepared with a backup plan. For any plan to work, you need to keep organized; for example, know where you stored your files to use them when you need them.

When everything else fails, you still could use the time to listen to your students and connect with them. Building rapport has an impact on student success that should not be ignored.

If you are teaching online, it is possible to build rapport in online courses and humanize online learning.

Here are 101 Things you can do in the first three weeks of classes with different activities you might want to try with your students during the first weeks and strategies for a successful first week of classes.

If you want to know more about student engagement, listen to Gardner's podcast with Brent Drake.

Throughout the semester, communicating with students is very important, because it helps you build rapport and relationships with students. What to do if your students avoid going to your office hours? You can set up 5-minute meetings to talk with each one of your students while your all your students are working on something. You can use this time to have checkpoints for a big assignment or give students oral feedback about an assignment.

Here are some resources to help you plan one-to-one meetings with students:

Pedagogy and Practice: Schedule One-on-One Meetings

How to conduct one-on-one meetings with students

Meaningful Learning through One-on-One Conferences

Dr. Bonni Stachowiack is our Hub scholar in residence this fall, leading conversations on ChatGPT and generative AI impacts in higher education.

She is the creator and host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast and also the Dean of Teaching and Learning, and a Professor of Business and Management, at Vanguard University.

Join our virtual meetings on Zoom on:

-Friday, Sept. 15th at 1pm ET

-Friday, Oct. 20th at 1pm ET

-Friday, Nov. 3rd at 1pm ET

Henry Ford College is inviting you to the

AI Symposium: “Thinking Outside the Bot”

September 15 from 9am to noon

Both Speakers are from the University of Michigan:

-Dr. Julie Hui

Assistant Professor of Information,

Researcher of Human-Computer Interaction.

-Nick Gasper

Distance Learning Director at Flint and Nursing faculty.

You can always make an appointment to meet with the Hub instructional designers:

Questions or comments? beleng@umich.edu

Photo Image by Hans from Pixabay ; Calendar, Teaching, and Blog icons by Icons8