Communication
I always call students before the course starts. Then I make certain I contact them if they are participating and if they are failing. I do what I can to tutor them and give them some one on one time. My goal is to help them get one step closer to their degree plan.
Communicating with students with a personal call is a very effective way to put the "personal touch" on the course. Students are assured I am there to facilitate their education and have a contact number to assist them. Breezy also made a good point in sending out weekly reminders. While a weekly posting is part of every course, I also send weekly reminders to both the student and student's alternate e-mail to help ensure the message is received.
I agree with your Terri. I think that its very imporatnt to show the students from the start that we as the instructors do care about the students learning while they are within the course. I send out weekly reminders and also do weekly outreaches to the whole class and also contact the students who are on the border line of passing and failing the course.
