Prepare for Your First Semester
Before Classes Begin
Get your IDs and passwords, learn the intricacies of the classroom space, attend virtual workshops, prepare a syllabus that is aligned with course learning objectives, check your textbook orders, request and populate your course site, and request digital media to enhance instruction.
- Get your FSUID
The FSUID is the official identity used to log into the OMNI Financials system and Blackboard. Follow the instructions at the activation site to obtain your FSUID and set the password. Your FSU email account will be generated automatically during the procedure. After activation, check to make sure you can log in to Blackboard using your new username and password. Contact FSU Technology Services personnel with questions.
- Get your FSUCard
The FSUCard is the official identification card for the Florida State University.- If you live in Leon County, you may obtain your FSUCard at the FSUCard Center located in Parking Garage #1 at the corner of West Call Street and Woodward Avenue between the FSU Bookstore and SunTrust Bank. The FSUCard Center is open 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bring required departmental documentation along with photo identification (valid driver's license, military ID, or current passport) when visiting the FSUCard Center for your first time card. Contact Card Center personnel with questions.
- Adjunct or online instructors living outside of Bay, Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla counties should complete the online FSUCard Application. Clicking this link will open a new window where you will be prompted to login to Blackboard by using your FSUID and password. Obtain your FSUCard by following the instructions: After submitting the FSUCard Application, you will receive an email within several hours that lists your FSUCard and library patron numbers. You will need these numbers to access the State University Systems Libraries. The card will be mailed to you within 5-7 business days. The FSUCard center can be reached by calling (850) 644-7777.
- Review the New Employee Checklist available from FSU Human Resources
The site has information on employee benefits and resources. Faculty starting at FSU in the fall should plan to attend New Faculty Orientation sponsored by the Dean of Faculties office. Faculty hired at other times during the year are encouraged to participate in New Employee Orientation sponsored by Human Resources. This training is available both face-to-face and online.
- Request a Blackboard course site
Blackboard is the main software used to set up Web-supported and online classes at FSU. Ninety-three percent of the courses at FSU are supported by a Bb course site. Both faculty and students find Bb sites an easy and convenient way to share course materials, communicate through announcements and e-mails, and track learning progress. Using a Blackboard course website, instructors can deliver content and coordinate online activities.
- Attend Blackboard virtual workshops
If you are new to the Bb learning management system, consider participating in a “Getting Started” workshop. Workshops on Bb are available throughout the year. View current and upcoming workshops.
- Review Using Blackboard to Teach
Review Getting Started and Blackboard for Instructors for requesting course sites, communication, tools, assessment and grades. Contact Blackboard Support Staff with questions.
- Visit your classroom
Visit your classroom before the first day of class to get familiar with the environment and technology. Are you using a Technology Enhanced Classroom (TEC)? If so, visit their web site to set up your computer account and get training on the specific technology in your room. TECs allow you to use computer consoles, DVD/VHS players, personal response systems, wireless microphones, and other technologies to enhance your teaching. You'll be able to display your teaching files (PowerPoint, sound files, images), and Blackboard or other websites on an LCD projector. You need only create (or renew) your TEC account and reserve one of the 104 TECs available across campus to use this resource. If you ever need immediate attention during class, call 644-2811 to report a problem or, after you have logged in, click the exclamation mark icon on the classroom computer desktop. Practice with this technology prior to your first class meeting and be sure to arrive early enough to get the equipment up and running before class starts. Contact Classroom Support personnel with questions.
- Check orders for Textbooks
Book orders are most often placed with the FSU Bookstore (choose Faculty Services: eDoptions) and Bill’s Bookstore (choose Faculty, and follow the prompts.) Check to make sure the appropriate texts and editions have been ordered as well as other instructional materials such as PRS clickers that you want students to purchase for class. Note that 2008 Florida Statutes include this mandate to post required textbooks on the course website not less than 30 days prior to the first day of class. This must include the title, all authors listed, publishers, edition number, copyright date, published date, and other relevant information necessary to identify the specific textbook or textbooks required for each course.
- Lay out a course plan
Your first semester will go much smoother if you have laid out a plan for your course. This useful worksheet (124 Kb Word doc) can be used to outline your course starting with objectives for each unit. Add what students will do both in and out of class and end with how student learning will be assessed. Chapter 1 (
172 Kb) of Instruction at FSU provides an overview of the course design process.
- Prepare the syllabus
FSU requires that a syllabus be passed out on the first day of class. Review our syllabus checklist ( 176 Kb) to make sure you have covered all the necessary elements and to get the current approved statements for the academic honor policy, disability resources, and the syllabus change notice.
We've also developed the following templates in Word, RTF, and HTML formats for the convenience of instructors. Download one of the files below (right click and save or control click and save) in the format you desire -- save it on your local computer. (Caution: it may be necessary for you to download the template and open it on your computer instead of just clicking the link.)
Edit the downloaded file, inserting information about your particular course. Upload the completed syllabus into Blackboard or other delivery tool, and/or print and reproduce the syllabus for hardcopy handouts. Contact CTL staff with questions.
- Prepare a grading statement, course goals and objectives
FSU requires that each instructor provide an evaluation (grading) statement that will be used to determine grades in each course along with a statement of the goals and objectives of the course. We strongly encourage that you include your evaluation (grading) statement in the syllabus. An explicit written statement included in the syllabus is the best way to provide students a clear understanding of course expectations and provides the best evidence that such an explanation was provided in case a grade is challenged. More on Writing Learning Outcomes
- Enhance your courses with digital media
Plan to use multiple examples in multiple media to illustrate key points and important concepts.
- FSU Libraries' Digital Media Center
Multimedia services offered in 2 locations within Strozier Library include viewing stations, studios, screening rooms, and work stations for you and/or your students to produce your own digital media. Make your reservation the day before and bring your own media (CD-R/RW, DVD+-R/RW) or device (USB drive) for saving your work. Contact Chuck McCann with questions. - APPS eMedia
Production and delivery options from eMedia are provided to faculty for instruction in academic courses bearing regular FSU course numbers. Choose from streaming media, audio recording and mixing, webcasting and more. Plan to submit your requests to eMedia staff 2 weeks before you need them for class. Contact Deb Simpson with questions.
- FSU Libraries' Digital Media Center
- Review the Faculty Handbook (
1.2 Mb)
Become familiar with faculty governance, human resources, faculty development, policies, procedures, and student/faculty interactions. Contact Dean of Faculties staff with questions. - Read Instruction at FSU
Learn strategies used by experienced instructors, instructional methods and techniques that follow the four components of Instructional Design: Course Planning, Lesson Delivery, Student Testing and Grading, and Course Revision and Evaluation. Bookmark for reading online, or contact CTL staff for a hard copy.
