an odd question and a picture

[warch]

Look over your required chapters and plan out your course. What will you provide or offer that is beyond the text? What are the big questions/problems that are investigated? What do you want them to learn? What should they know and be able to do after the class? List these out. What will they learn, the real, deeper concept stuff, that they wont just forget 3 months later? Work backwords to plan your classes from the key learning goals (or those prescribed chapters). Provide a clear syllabus on day one, you can reserve the right to tweak it though. Require attendance and dont be soft. Let them know they will need to earn their grade. This is college after all. You may have some latent HS cruise attitude. Hey, its their dime. They are adults.
That application to real life is very important. Stressing discussion is key- but it can be really hard, particularly with college students that dont know each other and dont want to look dumb. You need to set the discussion tone from day one. Get them talking, everyone. Go around the room if you can. Helps you with the names too. Make notes on your classlist to help you remember.

I second the "dont read" and add dont just blather on, lecture. Devise questions to kick off each session and connect with the readings. Make class active. In class, dont you do all the work. Besides reading and talking, how else can topics be investigated? Mock work situations? "challenges" presented that kick off a topic or project? With this sort of application students can even grade thier own or each other's success. Did they complete the project, on time with accuracy?

Maybe allow them to discuss in small groups then in the larger one if its a big class, or even assign them randomly to smaller working groups. I enjoyed classes and did well in ones where I had the support of the instructor and fellow students. Be creative in your approaches and dare to break up the rows of chairs pointed at the front desk. Get them moving and working.

Your first classes wont be perfect, but keep tweaking it and ask for, plan for student feedback. Steal and adapt all good ideas. Good luck and have fun.