Support for a Successful Fall Semester Start-Up

Yearning for cooler temperatures can be our signal to savor the remainder of precious summertime, but it can also be an invitation to begin thinking about your fall courses. The FDC has collected a set of resources below to help facilitate your transition to fall when you are ready to turn your mind to all things fall semester!

The following are some FDC resources that can help smooth your own re-entry to campus and into the semester:  

• If you are modifying or reconsidering course assessment approaches, review: 5 Steps to Update Assignments to Foster Critical Thinking and Authentic Learning in an AI Age 
• If you are beginning to update your syllabus, Furman’s general syllabus and fall 2025 course schedule templates may be useful. 
• Incorporating a SoTL statement in your syllabus can also help keep the door open for new research projects this semester related to your teaching efforts!  
• Making your expectations concrete in the syllabus now can help improve student learning for all down the road. Consider a “verb audit” in your course goals or objectives by swapping out nebulous words like “know” for more concrete behavioral learning indicators like “order,” “identify,” or “reproduce.”  Bloom’s Taxonomy-based Action Verbs gives helpful inspiration for word choice.  
• If you would like to spruce up your first day approaches to enhance student engagement, peruse this comprehensive DePauw University “The First Day of Class” guide.     
• Seeking feedback for improvements on your already effective teaching is one of the signature behaviors of virtuosic teaching.  As you develop your syllabus, plan now for mid-term, Small Group Instructional Feedback (SGIF), or peer observations.  To sign up, please complete an online collaboration request form to work with FDC staff or peer coaches this semester. 
• Finally, mark your calendars and join the FDC for any of our upcoming Fall Professional Development programs. For more details, visit our website events page.