I believe it is a good idea to have a club day in week one, where all clubs and organizations have a representative present themselves to students. This gets students excited about their place at the institution.

I encourage students to form study groups. Many students often learn better from fellow students. It also helps students who are behind to learn some of the rudimentary material and catch up.

I like the idea of a scavenger hunt if orientation is held on a big campus, but I'm surprised this isn't more common practice. It is a good way to break the ice, while also teaching about the campus.

It is the responsibility of all to make sure the student gets a valuable education. Although the first perception of an academic institution might be quite different from the perception of the institution after the first test taken, it is still important for you to remind the student the value of their education.

I certainly try to reinforce the objectives throughout the quarter. Granted, reading the objectives isn't enough, but I don't want to get too far above their heads on day one. This can add to their stress level and make retention a problem.

I know the instructor can affect the perception of course objectives. My question is this: How much does the instructor affect the proper perception of course objectives? I know I try to explain the course objectives on the first day and reinforce these throughout the term.

There is no doubt the objectives should be clearly stated on the syllabus. My comment is this: when coming up with objectives for a math course, one should keep in mind application. My question is this: How much should the foundations be stressed at this level?

When managing the classroom, worrying about student's stress levels is important. However, balancing this with keeping up with the objectives of the course can be difficult. I try to place myself in the student's shoes, keeping in mind my course likely isn't the only time commitment they have.

I've noticed some differences at MMTC about retention. It seems to be very much stressed, as it should be. My question is, how do we balance retention with the need to not "baby" students?