Stop Reading the Syllabus to Your Students (Do This Instead)

It’s "Syllabus Week." Across the world, professors are standing in front of glazed-over students, reading a PDF word-for-word. "The late policy is..." "The grading scale is..."

It’s the most boring day of the year. But it doesn't have to be.

If you bore them on Day 1, you lose them for the semester. This year, don't read the rules—play them.

The Strategy: The "Syllabus Quiz"

Instead of handing out a paper document (which ends up in the trash), turn your key policies into a RiLiFi Live Quiz.

3 Questions to Ask:

• Q1 (The Logistics): "What is the best way to contact me?"
  A) Carrier Pigeon B) Email C) DM on Instagram
• Q2 (The Stakes): "How much is the Final Exam worth?"
  A) 10% B) 50% C) Your Soul
• Q3 (The Integrity): "What happens if you use ChatGPT on an essay?"
  (Let them vote on the consequence!)

Why This Works

1. Active Recall: To answer the question, students have to actually scan the syllabus document. They are reading it to win, not because they were told to.

2. Setting the Tone: You are signalling: "This class isn't a lecture. It's a conversation." This sets the expectation for participation for the next 15 weeks.

3. It Builds Rapport: Laughter on day one breaks the ice. Students are more likely to ask for help later if they see you as approachable.

Conclusion

The syllabus is a contract, not a script. Make sure they actually read the contract by making it a game.

Don't be the boring professor. Gamify your first day with RiLiFi.