1. What Should I Do to Set the Tone for the Semester?
Stephanie L. Bradley
Introduce myself – name, TA and teaching experience

2. Outline Class Preparation Setting the Tone with the Instructor
Setting the Tone with the Students
Final Thoughts and Q&A
Ask about their roles this semester – In-person vs online; instructor of record, support TA with teaching responsibilities, TA exclusively with support responsibilities
Tailor the information from this presentation to your specific situation

3. How would you like a conductor to prepare for a trip?

4. Class Preparation Gain access to technological resources
Set up a TEC account
Request a Blackboard site*; ensure correct access
Understand available technological resources
Explore the Blackboard Support tab*
Visit your classroom
Prepare/understand the syllabus
Check textbook orders
Read “A Guide to Teaching & Learning at FSU”*
Read the “TA Handbook”
*The location of these items is displayed on the next slide.
Speaks to the importance of preparation, ensuring a logistically smooth start to the semester, and to being able to assist students
TA Handbook:
“since you are talking about the beginning of the semester & setting the tone, maybe you can mention material on page 16 about the attendance policy, and also the syllabus policy (see blurb on page 23-24). Also if you would like to quickly reference textbook adoption on p. 25 that would be fine as well (again, if you don’t cover this it is ok, we will tell them all they need to read these sections in detail). I think you were planning to speak  a little about this anyway, but please correct me if I am wrong. You need not cover these in minute detail---you can always refer them back to those pages of the TA handbook, and tell them they should be sure to read it in detail.”

5. Blackboard Support Tab

6. With and for whom do you set the tone?

7. Setting the Tone with the Instructor
When to act alone; when to involve them
Preferred method of communication
Work load and office hours
Your classroom attendance
Other expectations
Grade calibration
Other suggestions?

8. Setting the Tone with the Students
Making Your 1st Class Really "First Class”
Write down:
what these instructors say
what these instructors do

9. Setting the Tone with the Students
From Urban Dictionary

10. Setting the Tone with the Students
Orchestrate positive first impressions
Clarify learning objectives and expectations
Help students learn about each other
Set the tone for the course
Whet students’ appetite for course content
Inform students about logistics
Learn about the students
Other suggestions?
NOTE TO OTHER PRESENTERS: If you’re interested, use this link to get a gist of what I plan to discuss -

11. Final Thoughts…