I will reply within 24 hours. I ask that there be a subject line and that that line includes their course name and number.
Cristy,
Sounds like you have a plan that works for you. You are also modeling how to be professional in your communication and students hopefully will follow your lead. Thanks!
When e-mailing students, I am always polite and I always start the e-mail with the student's name to make the e-mail more personal. I always make sure that I respond to their e-mails within 24 hours or sooner.
On an outbound basis, email is primarily used as an exception class-wide communication channel. For example…
- Announcing changes chat and/or office hours
- Providing updates when the classroom is down due to technical issues
- Following up with non-active students
When email communications starts on an inbound basis, unless it is related to a student trying to send me their assignment as an email attachment (which is not allowed), I will take on a personal approach to the communication and use it as an opportunity to develop a stronger relationship with the student (such as demonstrating flexibility by accepting a late IP due to a local weather condition causing a blackout).
Jeanette,
Be careful sending too many reminders. . .the students will expect it all the time. They need to take some responsibility themselves. But, I do send reminders too. Once you set up that pattern, it's easy to keep up most of the time. Thanks!
I also send emails to the entire class. For instance I typically send an email to the class reminding them that "Discussion" post are due on Wednesday. I actually send two reminders one on Tuesday and another on Wednesday morning.
I send reminders to those students that have not submitted assignments/test.
Personal emails are sent to the students that address their grades and specific assignments/test results.
Lawrence,
I always tell students that their emails must have the course ID number in the subject line (as I teach more than one course) and they have to address me professionally and use professional language. They must also "sign" the email so I know their name. Sounds like you are doing similar things. Thanks!
What are your "rules" for emailing for your students?
I always make sure to address them by name, end with "thank you" and my signature. I avoid jargon or slang and generally try to be business like and to the point.
Alana,
Great job. I work also to help students understand that email communication is professional communication. Keep up the good work. When I get emails from students with no name in the signature line, I email them back with one line...who is this? ;-). Then I explain I teach several courses. Thanks again.
Hi Dr. Crews
I ask my online students to put: EDU 622 on the Subject Line or the EDU 633, etc. (the class name) to help reply back with the correct information. When you teach a variety of online courses in one session with different names it helps with this information on the subject line. Also, I want my students to email me professional emails with greeting lines and closing lines being a business teacher.
Thanks
Alana
James,
Have you tried the Frequently Asked Question Discussion Board where students can post questions about the course, assignment, project, etc. and other students can answer? It works for me an helps reduce my email overload. Students can then learn from each other and the instructor can answer the questions on the discussion board too and then many students can benefit from the questions and answers. Just a thought.
E-mail is the same as one raising a hand in class. I check my online course e-mail a few times a day (I am an adjunct, so I have another full time job).
My goal is to answer questions as quickly as possible because I understand that my student's time is limited as well.
Loriann,
The 24 hour rule is normal and a good one to stick with. However, it was brought up that students may take that very literally so saying "the next day" can work too and give you flexibility. Thanks.
The "rules" that I utilize with my students is that I do respond to emails within 24 hours. I normally check my email several times a day so they do not pile up because I have not checked in a couple hours. I also make sure that when I do respond to my students, that I am positive and attentive to their needs.
David,
"By the next day" is a good rule to follow. I can see where some students may take 24 hours as too literal. But, you are still being timely. Thanks for your input.
Hello,
I have made the choice to reply to emails by the next day. The twenty four hour rule was taken too literally by students which created an issue if they happened to send an email following a time I just logged off. For example, if I log off on a Monday at 10am and I receive an email at 11am the student would expect me to reply by 11am the following day which may not coincide with my schedule the next day. It may seem like a technicality but after it happened twice I realized I needed to make a slight adjustment.
Donald,
Does your school define what prompt is? Is it responding within 48 or 24 hours?
Just wondering what your school rules are. Thanks!
Erin ,
Thy key is to let students know your communication pattern and sticking to it. We need to be consistent and timely in our communication as well. Nice job.
Thank!
My rules for emailing students are the same as the school rules. I try to be prompt, and polite. I find that this is indeed the best policy.
Donald L. Buresh
I check my email daily, but let students know at the beginning of the course in the first lecture and in the course expectations that I am typically most available to answer emails on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
I also email all students a reminder right before lectures and important deadlines. I try not to overwhelm their inboxes.
Lastly, I use emoticons to indicate humor, rarely use all caps, and step away from the email if a message has ruffled my feathers.
