Every beginning of the semester, when class starts the first meeting is usually allocated for the Class Orientation. Class Orientation includes the discussion about the course, its description, the requirements, the class rules, the grading system and the other course details.
More often, class orientations are not taken seriously by the students. But I say, this is one of the most important sessions in the whole semester or school year. This session is one of the most important sessions in class because this is where the expectations about the subject are also discussed. As a faculty, the following are the importance of Conducting Class Orientation:
It gives overview about the subject. There are subjects especially for the freshmen students that are very new to them. During the orientation, the faculty will give the course description, the list of topics included in the subject as well as the learning outcomes expected for the subject.
It is a meet and greet session. During the class orientation, it is the first time that the faculty will meet his/her students and the students will also know their faculty. As I observed, most of the students make their first impression about the faculty in this session.
It lays the expectations in the class. Most often, students are asked about their expectations about the class, the faculty, the topics and even with their classmates. Most expectations about the faculty as I remembered would include: "I expected that the faculty will be considerate and will help us understand the lessons", "I hope Ma'am would be kind and would let us pass the subject". Well, most of the expectations are for the better. On the other hand, I as a faculty, I am telling them about my expectation, that is - "The students will be cooperative, ready to listen, pass the projects on time".
It allows the students to participate in creating the grading system. The faculty will present the grading system for the course, but the students can give suggestions on the grading system. In my case, I am asking suggestions or I am asking them if the grading system is fair for them or is alright with them.
It prepares the students of their requirements. The class requirements are also discussed in the orientation. The student will know the requirements of the subject and will have time to prepare it.
It gives details about the class rules. The class rules should not be disregarded. It included the proper dress code, timeliness in attending class and submitting projects. It is also stated in the class rules the reasons for the students to have dropped or incomplete grades.
Conducting Orientation in the New Normal
Before the pandemic, orientation are done in classroom, face to face setting, but now, since it is pandemic new ways are done. It is now in an online setting in which we use online video conferencing apps such as "Google Meet" , Zoom or Lark. We gave announcements ahead of time and then send to them the link for the meeting. Then, we present the course details to them through a presentation. We record the orientation for those students who are not able to attend the meeting. We really find ways on how can we still deliver the most important session in the class which is the orientation.
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Hello there, thanks for taking time to read this article! So timely for us, because it's the start of 1st Semester of the A.Y. 2021-2022. Even grade schools also have class orientations this time.
So if you have thoughts, experiences about this topic, please let me know in the comment section below. Have a great day!
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Importante pala yun. 😅 di po kase ako naattend ng mga orientation. Katamad. 😆