Establishing and Maintaining a Presence in your Online Course
Establishing a Presence The Early (texts, grading, papers etc) 2 nd Week Orientation (short and to the point) contact with students that missed orientation and office visit Spell it out and repeat (keep reaching at regular intervals)
Getting Students To Know You’re Around Regular s (perhaps just after due dates) Quick reply to student s Virtual office hours Phone visits Off-schedule office hours Quick turnaround on grades and comments Early alert system s s to advisors
Protocol Several short s rather than one long message Spell it out (more than once) Group s (for general information) Individual s (assignment tips) Grade discussion only in person
On Campus Events Midterm orientations Student-led help sessions (with or without instructor presence) Concerts/Readings pertaining to the course content or not University Day events Coordinate with Learning Resources/Writing Center Make the big paper a big event
Online Interaction Discussion board postings Student groups (Blackboard) Encouraging students by sending their work around (particularly with essay writing) Learning Communities (informal or not) Online Resources Tie in MLA Style Guide or Elements of Style
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