Faculty Forum

Abstract

Students' expectations are likely to affect the learning, motivation, and enjoyment of their courses as well as their evaluation of instructors. Attention to the accuracy and realism of student expectations may offer benefits to instructors. I describe an approach designed to foster more realistic expectations among students. This realistic course preview (RCP), modeled after the realistic job preview concept in organizational psychology, provides current students with recommendations and information from past students. I illustrate the RCP with a research methods course as well as possible extensions and variations of the approach.