Austin,
This can be frustrating. I provide sample emails in my syllabus to show ones I do not answer (no subject line or no name) and ones I do reply to. It sea to make a difference. Thanks.
Austin,
Weekly reminders can be a good thing to help keep students on task. The 24-48 hour rule is very standard. Thanks.
Dr. Crews,
A co-worker of mine told me about Remind 101 in the public school setting. It's a great way to send reminders, etc. to students/parents. I love it! I guess I hadn't thought about using it in the college setting.
Roger,
I usually don't require the Course/Section # but it does help to know which particular class the students is enrolled. I will incorporate this going forward. I can't believe that I don't mention this upfront because I always use the Course Name/Section Number in my subject line when I contact students via email.
I respond to student emails within a 24 hour turnaround. I tell students that I usually access the Virtual Campus multiple times per day so they are at ease about having their questions and concerns addressed in a timely manner. Additionally, I encourage students to be very specific in their emails. It's difficult to guide students when they send emails stating "I don't get this" without any specificity.
Angela,
I can relate to the "who is this?" question because I have received e-mails from students who did not include their own names at the end of their e-mail messages to me.
I inform students to expect replies to their e-mails within 24 - 48 hours. I also copy weekly announcements to students' e-mail in-boxes.
roger,
Definitely. I tell the students (and provide an example in the syllabus) to put their course/number in the subject line and make sure they sign their email with their name. Otherwise, it will slow the communication process. Good point.
Fred,
Do you have any way of providing feedback to those who are "mandating" these things so that they may more carefully consider what all they are asking you to do?
Thomas,
I tell students to email me only when it's a personal issue. All other questions should be posted on the FAQ discussion board so that all students can benefit from the questions and answers. Thanks!
I let them know I will respond to their emails usually within 48 hours. Additionally, to speed up a reply to them, I send them this:
"Students - I have multiple classes and get hundreds of emails each semester. It will help me respond to you quicker if you include the class and section number in your email questions to me.
Here are some typical examples of course and section number, and including yours in the subject header of your email will help me answer your questions a lot quicker:
COMP102 - 1401A - 02
COMP102 - 1401A - 03
"
The rules state that I have a 24 hour reply window to respond to queries. In most cases, I will reply sooner than that. We are also mandated to give a google voice number in case the students have any questions. This has caused many problems over the past year as it tends to further handcuff me to my 'part time' online duties. The word boundaries really has no meaning in an online teaching environment.
I encourage emails when its a personal issue, like a question on the grades, and the student doesn't need an immediate answer since I inform them I only check emails 2-3 times a day during the week and daily on weekends. I find this works well.
Lisa,
My opinion stays the same. If you start off the first term course with tons of reminders, they'll expect it in the next one as well. Hope this is helpful.
Hi Dr. Crews,
You write that we should "be careful sending too many reminders" because students will come to expect that.
I agree that students should take "some responsibility" but does your opinion change if this is a first term course?
I ask because in some of the first term classes I teach, I send an email a day.
Lisa
Eugenia,
Online instructors do use audio announcements, transcripts, quick voice over PowerPoint, etc. and many different ways to get the point across. We have a variety of students, so a variety of ways of communicating can be good as well. Thanks!
That's very interesting! I had not heard of this resource before.
Although the immediacy of texts and emails are convenient, I've wondered if students could benefit from an audio announcement weekly instead of an email. It could be cumbersome to implement a podcast type of RSS feed to distribute the audio and make it easy to integrate with audio players, but it is something I'd like to see online classrooms make available because I believe it could help students receive reminders in a more personal manner.
Alan,
Sounds like you have not only a system that works for you, but your students. Letting students know how/when they will receive feedback is essential. Thanks!
Steven,
The introduction of yourself and having students introduce themselves is a great way to set the tone of the course. The middle check up is a formative assessment and then the thank you can wrap everything up. Thanks for the input.
I provide a reply to emails within 24 hours. As a rule, I go online each day to check emails. I spend less time on the weekends as papers are usually due after the weekend; which is when I grade them and provide feedback within 48 hours.
