Flipping the Syllabus: Using the First Day of Class To Encourage Student Acceptance of a New Pedagogical Technique

Flint, Michigan, Water Crisis as an Upper-Division First Day of Class Activity and Introduction to Primary Literature

“…2,3 However, a growing body of literature proposes benefits to engaging students in course content-based activities from the beginning. 4,5 Examples of such activities in the literature include several for introductory chemistry classes, 6−8 but very few first day of class activities for intermediate or upper-level courses. 9 The Flint, MI, water crisis has been a topic of several previously published pedagogical activities.…”

“…Impressions on the first day of class can have lasting effects on student motivation and grades . Survey data from students shows that students prefer to receive information about the course and expectations and prefer not to begin with course content or meet for the full class duration. , However, a growing body of literature proposes benefits to engaging students in course content-based activities from the beginning. , Examples of such activities in the literature include several for introductory chemistry classes, − but very few first day of class activities for intermediate or upper-level courses …”