I like the techniques of ice breakers, such as students interviewing other fellow students. I recall my teacher applying that same method with my school friends and myself. The idea of having syllabus and letting students know what to expect from the class, also have the information of the way they will be graded, dates, and presentations seems to be good, and it works. Going over these items is always a fresh reminder to students what we expect achieve, as well as them to know what they will be learning by the end of the course.
