What to include in a first session

Include the following in your opening session/s 

• Introductions:  a brief welcome and introduction from you - your name, and your experience in the subject 

• Housekeeping:  if in the building: where are the toilets, cafe, learning centre (and what it offers).  Fire evacuation procedures, 

• How to find features on Zoom  (online learning)  eg mute, chat, hands up, and   how you will use Google Classroom

• What to expect:  discussion of the course outcomes and course programme, times of breaks

• Icebreaker:  an activity to enable people to engage with each other quickly and learn each others’ names  

• Ground rules: agree rules on how the group will work together, face to face or on Zoom,  and any health and safety or other rules.  

• City Lit policy -  Put the City LIt induction video on Google Classroom and encourage your students to watch.  (See below).  It covers City Lit's commitment to Safeguarding and Equality and Diversity as well as wider City Lit events.

• Signing the contract on the e-register – if face to face. This is required by our funders.

• Initial assessment activities - completion of the individual record of learning and other ways of informally checking learners’ starting points - more later.

Finally, although  a big list, don’t let the above take up too much time – make sure you provide an interesting and lively start to your course content so learners feel they are learning what they came for.  If necessary you can sprinkle the above through the first and second session.