Supporting First Year Students
The pages in this section articulate who our students are now and what they expect, because as all faculty know, they are very different from students even just a few years ago, both in terms of academic preparation and social skills. Many have lived their lives through screens, exacerbated by pandemic online learning. The materials outline how faculty can explicitly support students’ learning, engagement, and sense of belonging as they transition from high school to college, including guidance that can be shared directly with students, such as time management practices.
These pages were designed primarily for faculty teaching first year students, but are helpful for faculty teaching all levels, including graduate. In short, they are intended to help faculty help students learn how to be students and responsible people living in the world.
What We Know About Students Now
They’ve inherited a deeply uncertain world and are distinct from prior classes of students, both in terms of academic preparation and social skills.
- What they expect (and what they don’t know to expect)
- How faculty can meet those expectations (and reduce frustrations)
- A Class as a Community of Learners: addressing mutual responsibility, attendance, lateness, deadlines
- Transparent teaching
- Flexibility, but also clarity
- Inclusive teaching
- Accessibility
- Classroom for community building
- Supporting international students
How To Be A Student
Skills students need to learn to be successful. Includes materials to be shared with students.
- How To: Project management
- How To: Focus
- How to: Get to class on time (and why it matters)
- Stress management
- How to: Talk about stuff that’s uncomfortable
- The Science of Learning: Tidbits for Students
Building Community and Social Skills
- Eye contact
- How to “make small talk” (and why it matters)
- Phones, phones, phones
Hidden Curriculum
- How To: Connect with professors outside of class (includes advice for students on reasons they might want to reach out)
- How to: Communicate with faculty and staff (includes email templates for various situations)
- Librarians are your support power
- Student Support Services: A quick overview
Metacognition
- How to: Metacognition
- The Weekly Journal: Metacognition & Customized Conversations, with Katayoun Chamany, Mohn Family Professor of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Lang (video, ~30 mins)
- Metacognitive journal entries assignment example
- Sample self-questions to promote student metacognition about learning
- Sample self-questions to promote faculty metacognition about teaching
Pedagogical Strategies to Engage Students and Build Community
Short videos of faculty sharing their practices:
- Overcoming the Critique Slump with Linnea Paskow, Part-time Assistant Professor, Parsons (3 min)
- Who Can Make the WORST Design?! with Linnea Paskow, Part-time Assistant Professor, Parsons (3 min)
- Engaged Pedagogy & Supporting the Whole Student with Gyun Hur, Assistant Professor of Fine Arts, Parsons (4 mins)
- Photo Journals: Getting Students to Observe and Share with Rodger Stevens, Part-time Assistant Professor, Parsons, (4 mins)
What Incoming Students Are Told Through Orientation
What students learn about academic advising, academic integrity, student conduct, wellness and safety, AI, and the Narwhal Pledge.
How to Be A Successful Student
Consider encouraging (or even requiring) students to watch this excellent video series on how to be a successful student.