Live Chats, Office Hours, and other contact times
In an online course I always have Live Chat times that are one hour, Office Hours where students can meet me, and I tell students they can call me anytime between 9am-9pm.
While I offer all these times, I often only receive 1 or 2 students who attend or contact me.
How do you reach the students that never contact you, but maybe need to? I find that even calling, emailing everyone doesn't work either. I want to make sure that I am available, but at the same time, I want to make sure students will utilize these opportunities if they need it.
Should I just assume that if they don't contact, they are fine?
Thanks,
Kelly
Hilda,
It is funny how students will ask for help via text or email but not where another student might get useful help too!
Shelly Crider
Most of my students do not attend the live chat sessions, but I get messages from students via email or by phone asking for clarification when they run into problems with the course work.
John,
Something ethical really gets them involved as well.
Shelly Crider
I keep remind students I am there. I try to find catchy posts to start a good conversation. This could be a cartoon, video, photo, or something trendy...
Daniel,
Excellent post as we do need to meet the student's expectations through the best medium for them.
Shelly Crider
EL 101 Forum 3
I always offer email, phone and text to my students. I discuss students that have contacted me through those mediums in the chats. I also will have comments in mass emails like “I was reminded by students through texts and emails that the seminar was postponed to Monday. Thanks for the reminder folks.†I want the student to feel like they are the only ones not contacting me.
When students are MIA, they fear emails from the instructor. In the email caption, I will say “Hey…you ok?†I have had success…maybe 10 out of 25.
Tara,
Many will text you over call you. You may use your own phone or through google.
Shelly Crider
I take online classes too and I don't like to contact my professor except through email. I have been fortunate enough to have very good professors that correct my work and send it back in a form that is easy for me to understand. I try to do the same with my students. For the ones that don't want to personally talk to me, I make sure they have the tools they need via the portal. I place helpful hints and corrected papers in this area, that way they always have the answer at their finger tips.
Kelly,
To that one or two students....you are a star and a hero! You might thank "the two students who joined me in chat this week" in an email to everyone. This will make other realize they have missed something!
Shelly Crider
