The first live session is an exciting experience. In an online class, your students have downloaded the digital textbook and are ready to tackle the learning at hand. As you prepare for your first live session, here are a few items to consider.
Break the Ice
The worst part about the first night of class is not knowing anyone. Now imagine not knowing anyone as you stare into your camera. Our first job is to create a community, and what better way to do this than an icebreaker. Here is one of my favorites:
Find an Object
Ask your students to turn off their camera and search for an object in their home that is most meaningful to them. Give students a few minutes to shuffle around their house or move their computers if they have to share a larger object. When they come back, allot 1-2 minutes to share. This is a great opportunity to share something about yourself, too. Our homes are our most personal spaces, so it finding an object — a plant, a pillow, a kitchen gadget, a snack– will also allow your students to get a glimpse of your personality.
Depending on the size of your class, you can do this strategy as a whole group, or create a more intimate setting using break out rooms. We know how intimidating it can be to share a prized object in a large group. A small group setting will definitely make it more comfortable.
Note: If this icebreaker doesn’t suit your fancy, do a quick google search and you’ll surely find one that does!
Be the Tour Guide
Your students may be unfamiliar with the online environment you have painstakingly prepared. Take some time to share your screen and introduce some of the features of your video conferencing tool. Show them how to check their audio, share their screen, chat, add a background, or accept an invitation to a break out room. Seeing that there are over 30 video conferencing tools out there, your students will appreciate a quick overview.
Likewise, your students will want to know how you house information in your Learning Management System or LMS. It is worth stating that Blackboard is not the same as Canvas which is not the same as Google Classroom. Your students will benefit from a quick shared screen that allows them to see how you organize the course content. Think of this as sharing the syllabus digitally. By introducing the info via the LMS, you kill two birds with one stone.
Q & A Time
Reserve the end of the live session to allow students to ask questions. While we might have covered the basics, your students may have additional concerns that need to be addressed. Be mindful of the time. I have a habit of ending the course and then asking students if they’d like to stick around to hear the questions. That’s not totally fair to them, so I try my best to include it within the allotted time.
If you’d like, you can also formalize the ending of your course by asking students to respond to one or more of the following statements:
I still have a question about . . .
I am most excited to learn about . . .
I’m not sure where to find . . .
Can you explain . . .
You can do a quick whip around to close the course and bid adieu.
The first live session sets your students up for success, allows them to get to know each other, and permits them to ask any questions. If you hit the mark on all three, you’re on your way to a great term.
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