Strategies of Workload Management
What strategies do you use to reduce emails and improve communication with your students?
Kimberley,
Me too. I love the FAQ Discussion Board and so do students. I also have online, virtual office hours. Thanks!
To reduce emails I try to anticipate the questions are issues students may have in the course and create scaffolding tools and reminders that will help alleviate those issues. I have a FAQ section in the course that handle general issues and a student materials section that handles questions regarding assignments and tests.
To improve my communication with student I hold virtual labs and office hours twice a week so I can talk with my student via a conference line.
Thank you
Walt,
Good point. Putting yourself in your students' shoes is a great place to start. I remember when I took an online course after I had been teaching online for awhile and it brought me a new perspective. Thanks!
When setting up a new course, I also try to look at it from the student's perspective. If there is anything that a student's should know, I'll post details in an announcement. I also use my comments to address common issues when giving my feedback to student's discussions and when I grade their assignments.
Faith,
Detail is one of the key words you use in this forum post. I like the "Coffee Shot" ideas as well. It provided a point of contact for all students. Thanks so much!
There are a few strategies I use to reduce emails and improve communication with students. I use detailed announcements to give clarification on assignments and upcoming lectures. I use Eyejot videos to make myself more present and to help students feel connected. In these videos I will also review important information and give clarification regarding class assignments and class expectations.
For specific class projects I use screencast videos. I use a MS Word document with the directions for the assignment. I highlight important aspects using different colors. When going over this in the screencast, it makes it easier to point out these key components.
I always include a Questions forum or Coffee Shop in the class. Often times, many students will have the same question. Having the Coffee shop allows everyone to see my suggestions or answers and thus decreases possible emails or redundant questions. In my class announcements, I ask students to refer questions to the Coffee Shop and to check there first before emailing me.
Emily ,
You are very generous. I do not give my students my personal number. I have the 24 hour rule and I stick with it and I also have a FAQ bulletin board for posting any questions any time and give extra credit to students who answer each other's questions. That works for me. Thanks!
Hello there,
I found recently that instructors need to be available to students more so than ever! I allow my students to have my personal number. I allow text messages from them. It's easy to get behind with communication. If I am boggled down or "in the weeds" I either try to get back to them ASAP or make a note to get back to them within the 24 hour period.
Emily
Christina and Robert,
Thanks for continuing the conversation. We continue to learn from each other.
Nice job.
Robert,
Thank you for sharing the letter that you provide to your students with us. I think it is a fantastic way to let the students know their instructor is there for them and willing to assist in any way possible. I will definitely use this approach in my courses as well. I think it will be a good way to reach out to my students early in the course to encourage and assure them that they will have a helpful and engaging instructor.
-Christina
Barry,
I like synchronous meetings as well. Recording them gives access to all students and also provides an opportunity for students to go back and look at them for remedial purposes as well. Glad you are finding success in this. Thanks for your input.
I use live chats, which are also recorded for those whose schedules do not allow them to attend.
In the first five minutes of each chat we discuss the previous week's assignment... what went well for most, what didn't... (No Names) Then we discuss the present week's assignment, it's form, previous class papers which earned good marks, how to narrow down the topics and how to research personal interest topics without straying too far from the required discussion... THEN I have a similar paragraph attached to each assignment write up, which has research links and the upload link on the same page... so the information is easy to find... I provide my office number and my cell number... communicate through facetime when applicable and texting to insure prompt communication. And so far this has worked well.
BC Karrh
James,
Yes, I have created mini-videos too to answer questions I know will arise and show one solution to the problem/questions. I like your analogy of a new toy for Christmas. ;-)
I have been teaching for over ten years now online, I already know what many students are going to be asking before they even ask them, so I try to incorporate as many of these "questions" into my expectations files as I can. What is frustrating however is that quite a few do not bother to read the expectations file and still ask the same old questions. Its kind of like getting a new toy for Christmas for your child and not bothering to read the instructions to put the toy together, both you and the child are likely going to be frustrated at the outcomes.
Cindy,
Excellent strategy. As we are proactive in our communication with students, we'll see that decrease in email. Nice job. Thanks for sharing.
I post announcements that answer most of the general questions I get at the beginning of a class. I also post examples of the assignments and a grading rubric every week. This has reduced my emails by more than half.
Antonio,
Good idea. We have to develop those things we can use over again to help students improve their learning. Nice job.
After a few years of teaching online, I have developed a series of emails I will send separately to the students during the first day of class. These (FAQ) normally will stop the excessive amounts of course related questioning and grading policies. In one of my courses, I also send out in week 2 an additional email regarding the week 3 assignment, as long I keep this flow of information, my inbox remains at a manageable size.
Jean,
Those redundant emails can drive us all nuts. The FAQ announcement or discussion board really does help. Thanks!
