Another pitfall
I find that students underestimate the importance of engaging with me as well as the other students in the course. They will not respond to calls or emails... maybe as a way to avoid the truth. Being able to get them on the phone or engaged through email is really important and the students need to realize it's just as important for them to engage as it is for the instructor to engage with them.
Alicia, Students must engage with us and we can only try to ensure that they know HOW much we want them to succeed. Repeating this message via email, via announcement and another other means for our classroom is important. I also attempt to call them so I can let them hear my voice. In addition, I make sure to include their admissions advisor and student success coach on my communications so they know that their is a TEAM of people behind them!
Simplicity is absolutely important for many students who are intimidated by writing. I often find that as often as technology issues can get in the way communication, simply having the courage to attempt to articulate a question in writing on the screen is even more a roadblock for students who may need to do so the most. Phone conversations or more synchronous modes of communication like IMs help, but if stuck with email/threads, it's important to be brief and to the point so as not to discourage a response. It's a balance between being professional (complete) and verbose. All it takes is a tiny bit of uncertainty in some online learners to completely shut down.
Yes agreed
If I see a student who is not engaged I will make it a point to ask them questions and try to engage.
I will always offer up various ways to reach out to me in order to provide a comfort level
Student ingagement is mutual, being if we were in class and saw a student struggling we would call the student to our desk to discuss their concern. If should be no different as a online course were a teacher notices their student not responding.
Stephanie,
I agree with you. With so much email we do have to think about the different ways we communicate to our students and make them understand the importance of communicating with us.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Marco,
I never thought of it that way and it is certainly something to consider. I will have to try that at the next term start. I'm sure they are getting a lot of emails from various people so making sure you state who you are can have that email stand out to the student. I would imagine this would not be as necessary later in the term once contact has been established. :)
Stephanie
Marco,
Students do think they are somewhat bullet proof from communications evaluation. Many of them feel they have the right to say anything. I remind them the course is part of their professional development and professional communication is a part of that. I have taken a student offline because they could not sensor their own communication.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
At times, they may not realize who we are in the communication, so I say that I am their instructor. This is amazing that it happens, as we figure, they should recognize our name, but , this has worked. Also, in communications, ask them if they are okay, can I answer any questions? Something simple sometimes gets a better response than a more communicated email? What do we think?
Alicia,
If they don't answer you don't exist. I have also seen this with instructors also. You want to make sure they understand the expectations and many times you have to say it over and over again!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
