Your First Week Checklist
How you spend your first week in a course predicts the rest of your term. Complete this checklist in the first 3β5 days after your contract start date.
Your First-Week Checklist
| β | Task | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| β | Log in to My and open your course | Confirms you can access everything. |
| β | Read the Announcements | Your tutor may post orientation and expectations there. |
| β | Read the Course Outline start to finish | It defines what you'll learn and how you'll be graded. |
| β | Note every assignment and its weight | You can't plan your term without this list. |
| β | Contact your tutor to introduce yourself | Starts the relationship before you need help. |
| β | Check for required textbooks or materials | Avoids delays in week two. |
| β | Set up a study space and schedule | Creates the structure self-paced study needs. |
| β | Save the TrustOpen support contacts (see Module 4) | You'll know exactly where to go when you need help. |
Interpreting a Course Outline
Every course outline contains the same core information. Here's how to read it efficiently:
- Objectives: what you'll be able to do by the end of the course.
- Assessment table: assignments, quizzes, exams, and each one's weight.
- Schedule or suggested pace: how the course recommends you progress.
- Policies: late work, academic integrity, exam rules.
- Tutor contact information: how and when to reach them.
Reviewing Your Assessment Schedule
Copy every assessment into a calendar within the first week. Add each one two weeks before the actual deadline as a "start preparing" reminder.
Seeing your deadlines in one view is one of the most effective ways to avoid the "it all piled up" problem.
Self-Quiz
1. When should you complete the first-week checklist tasks?
2. Which section of the course outline tells you what you'll be graded on?
3. What is the recommended buffer before an assignment deadline?