How to remove fears from students minds of a new course?
The instructor must provide clear guidelines as to the course requirements in terms of content, classroom evaluation, lab evaluations and all required objectives to be accomplished.
I agree but at the same time, the instructor should be able to convey the idea to the student that they are there to help and facilitate the learning experience.
I think that it is natural for both students and instructors to have some fear of a new class. I think that having clear goals, content, evaluations and objectives for the course can help to reduce fear. I think it is also important to have clear expectations for how the class will conduct itself is another area for discussion on the first day. This would be in terms of what the students expect to gain, this can be done by having the students right down their objective for the class and hand it in, the first session and then have them review it on the last session.
