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Before the First Day of Class
A Resource Guide for New Faculty
This guide is designed for faculty who are content experts developing their teaching practice. Resources are organized around three high-impact areas: building community and belonging, helping students understand why content matters, and closing class effectively. Each resource has been selected for its practicality and research grounding.
How to use this guide
- Quick wins (name tents, housekeeping slide, muddiest point, bridge statement) can be implemented in the next class session.
- Early semester moves (syllabus quiz, Brightspace announcements, WIFM hooks) are best set up before or at the start of a term.
- Deeper investments (recommended books, TILT framework, relevance maps) reward a weekend of reading and modest course redesign.
- Two books worth reading first: Small Teaching by James Lang and Why Don’t Students Like School? by Daniel Willingham. Both are accessible and evidence-based.
Section 1: Before the First Day of Class
1.1 Class is Ready and Accessible
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Resource Online and F2F |
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Brightspace offers a comprehensive resource site to help you set up your course, including guidance on creating assignments, setting due dates, building a course calendar, and using the Course Builder feature, among other tools. Be sure to also explore the platform's accessibility features and review the available resources on creating accessible course content. Resource link: Brightspace Higher Education Instructor Knowledge Base |
1.2 Welcome Message
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Write a Welcome MessageWrite a welcome message to send to students before the first day of class. This message can be automated to send on the morning of the first day or delivered a few days in advance. Use it as an opportunity to introduce yourself so students begin to feel a personal connection to you and the course. Include key information about what students can expect, and highlight the resources available to support them throughout the semester. Keep the tone positive and encouraging. Resource link: Setting the Tone |
1.3 Open Class Early
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Most students appreciate having access to their online course a day or two before it officially begins, as this gives them time to review the syllabus and prepare. Many online learners balance coursework with work and other responsibilities, often completing assignments in the evenings or on weekends. Opening the course early allows students to familiarize themselves with the material and begin the semester feeling prepared and confident. To do this, you will need to activate your Brightspace course. Resource link: Activating a Course in Brightspace |
1.4 Ask Students to Bring Something on the First Day
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This is a simple and popular classroom exercise where students respond to three prompts, typically something like:
The idea is that students complete it before or on the first day and bring it to class (or submit it online), giving the instructor immediate insight into what students already know, what they're curious about, and what concerns they have. It also gets students thinking about the course before it begins, making for an easy, low-stakes way to start discussion. Information about the 3-2-1 assignment can be shared in the course welcome message for a face-to-face class or created as a separate assignment in an online course. Resource link: 3-2-1 Assignment |
