To improve my students communication in online class, I post a few questions or a website for them to go to and research. This gives the students a lot more chances to reply. This helps them get better in all their skills of reading and writing.
Matthew,
You make a great point. Repetition and consistency is so important.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
When it comes to communication, I feel the best practice is to repeat, repeat, and repeat. We continue to find ways to communicate effectively. I work for Macy's and I continue to find ways to improve my communication styles. Again, I do not believe people can over communicate in my opinion.
Matthew Schwartz
Michael,
Great strategies. I am finding that students really appreciate a look at a "bad" paper and a "good" paper. They recognize the difference.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The ways which I assist students with their reading, writing, and communication skills are by doing. What I mean by this is that there are many different methods of learning, however, for others to understand what you are looking for or expect, I find it invaluable to provide an example or template (with conditions of course). Explaining to students what you want, what’s expected, providing constant feedback and showing them by doing, has tremendously assisted me with communicating, improved their research and skills, as well as them not being afraid to speak-up because of the positive Community of Practice – speak your mind but respect others.
Melissa,
You are so right, we should model completely the behavior we expect our students to use. If you don't who do you expect the students to act?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Dee,
What a great idea. I am going to use that one! Have you seen some of the youtube clips explaining APA? They are pretty good also. The feedback from you is the most important.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
One of the most important things I do is model effective writing and communication skills. My course announcements, discussion posts, emails, assignment feedback etc... is void of errors. If, by chance, there is an error I always go back to fix it and create a learning moment by discussing the error and how I fixed it.
I also provide students with links to online resources that provide information they might find useful.
Finally, I will often offer tutor session to students who need support. Sometimes all a student needs is to talk through a concept rather than have to read through it being explained. ~Melissa
I asked the Librarians to give me a document with some of the most pertinent APA tips for students - and I distribute that at the beginning of each course. I developed the APA Worksheet assignment that is currently used in my course - it's a quiz over paraphrasing, using in-text citations, and formatting references. I give students detailed feedback on this assignment.
Also, throughout the course, I give students feedback on their APA formatting, and point them toward resources they can use to improve.
Cynthia
Look at the tool jing. (google it) it provides a url you can send to the student to see the recording. It is also free!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Dr. Wilkinson,
I provide detailed feedback using a rubric that I copy and paste into students' grading comments. I also send a copy of their first paper back to them with additional comments if needed on style, grammar, and mechanics. However, I have two packed courses of students every five weeks, so I have not considered recording feedback. I would also have no way of posting an audio feedback for them to review.
I am always open to any solutions around that issue, especially for struggling students.
Professor Armes
Cynthia,
Thanks for sharing. I am going to look at this. It is so important for online educators to share their techniques and tips. It makes us all better!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Cynthia,
I do to and it is almost like a guest speaker. I have used Grammar girl podcasts as a great way to do some quick remediating.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Cynthia,
I think that is a great idea. How do you give your students feedback? Have you tried recording your grading and feedback? is is a great way to connect to students and research shows the students feel the feedback is richer as you give the waht and how about the problem.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
This is an excellent website for interactive exercises with online feedback. My students love this website:
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/write/writesite/exercises/welcome.aspx
I love quick and dirty tips, especially the discussion of point of view which has helped students move away from use of personal pronouns to use of formal third person point of view in their assignments.
I also love You-Tube videos. I share lots of videos, especially for visual learners.
Cynthia
Dr. Wilkinson,
To help students improve their reading, writing, and communication skills, I do the following in my English courses:
1. Provide guidelines for discussion board and Email communications. 10 percent of their discussion grade is grammar, style, and mechanics.
2. Provide a writing guide for each assignment with links to resources on thesis, body paragraphs, using sources, and citing sources.
3. Provide a link to APA (which we use instead of MLA) online resources, including citation tools.
4. Discussion assignments include writing outlines,annotated bibliographies, writing a body paragraph with sources, and evaluating others' writing.
5. Through feedback on their work, I provide guidance on their writing style, tone,spelling, grammar, and mechanics. I focus on major issues with conciseness and clarity, and then, focus on the lower level concerns of editing. 30 percent of their grade on formal writing assignments is the evaluation of communication skills. I try not to overwhelm students, but do note the importance of professional communication and point them to resources to improve their writing.
Using what I have learned from observing and evaluating student writing in the last sixteen years of teaching, I am considering writing a "How to Survive Online College English" e-book for Kindle and other devices.
Thanks,
Cynthia
Steven,
How do you facilitate that? Do you do it through chats or video meetings?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
oFFER EXTRA HELP OR WORK WITH THEM INDIVIDUALLY AFTER CLASS IN LABS AND MAKE EACH PART OF THE QUESTION A LESSON FOR THEM TO WORK ON DURRING CLASS
Faryl,
What a great strategy. Do you determine their needs by a self assessment?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
