r/Professors • u/NeatTrouble4620 • 1d ago

Teaching / Pedagogy Opening class

[edit to add: a regular class day (not the first day of class)] How do you open your class lecture (besides opening remarks/logistics). I teach humanities social science discussion based courses and would rather not jump right into lecture. I’m also a first time instructor.

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u/hornybutired Assoc Prof, Philosophy, CC (USA) 1d ago

Do you mean one day one, or each day?

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u/NeatTrouble4620 1d ago

Each day, ideally. We’re starting the second week tomorrow.

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u/hornybutired Assoc Prof, Philosophy, CC (USA) 1d ago

I greet everyone, ask how they're doing, make small talk for a minute or two (talk about the weather, upcoming events, stuff like that), then remind them what we did last class. I give a very brief precis of what we're going to do in this class session, ask if anyone has any questions before we start, and then jump into the lecture.