VIRTUAL CONFERENCE ictcm.com | #ICTCM Angi Agocs MOTIVATING AND - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

32nd International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics

ictcm.com | #ICTCM

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

MOTIVATING AND ENGAGING ONLINE STUDENTS

Angi Agocs Kristine Buddemeyer Christina Thompson Seminole State College of FL

BEFORE THE SEMESTER BEGINS: CLARIFY THE COURSE OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTATIONS

Welcome email is sent to students once a week, starting 3 weeks before the semester

• starts. It contains the
• Syllabus
• Test dates and proctoring requirements
• Text book and online homework information
• (Homework shell is ready to be used)
• Basic requirements
• First section of lecture notes and videos

FIRST WEEK: ORIENTATION VIDEO AND QUIZ

• There are 3 orientation videos (instructor, homework, syllabus)
• Videos are short, 5 – 6 minutes maximum
• Students must take a mandatory orientation quiz based on the welcome

videos

• Quiz could be taken multiple times. Count as a grade or give extra credit.
• Update the orientation video every term
• Intro discussion

Weekly Assignments

• Bulleted list of assignments due each week
• Link to assignments in LMS or online homework
• Link to lecture notes, videos, etc

Communicate with students through announcements

• Link to assignments or lecture materials
• Enable comments from students

THE SET-UP: LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

THE SET-UP: LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Introduction Discussion Activity (Liberal Arts Course):

• First: Students are given a link for a free “Myers-

Briggs” test

• Second: Students are organized into groups to

create a Venn Diagram to display their shared & differing personality traits

• Comment: Students must look at the Venn Diagram
• f at least one other group and write what they

would guess about the group dynamic

GETTING STUDENTS ENGAGED: EXAMPLE ACTIVITY

MYERS-BRIGGS KEY

GETTING STUDENTS ENGAGED: WEB MEETINGS

• Web-Ex, Zoom, Skype, etc.
• Email session info 7-10 days prior to web meeting
• Include assignment that will be reviewed during the session
• 75-90 minute sessions
• Record the session share recording later
• Provide time stamps for problems, if possible
• Can be used for one-on-one meetings, too

Facilitated online

• Professor can write their own questions tailored to the needs in their classroom
• Types of questions: multiple choice, free response and rating
• Can be anonymous or not

Sample Questions

• Rate your understanding of course expectations and assignments.
• Was the content arranged in a clear and logical way?
• Rate the quality of multimedia used in the course.
• Were the review sections before the tests useful?
• How many hours did you spend completing activities related to the course?
• Identify two ways to improve this e-learning course.
• What are two strengths of this e-learning course?

GETTING STUDENTS ENGAGED: STUDENT FEEDBACK SURVEY

After each test (the first is important!), email each student “individually:”

• Keep up the good work; You’re right on track!
• In danger of failing. Tutoring/Office Hours visits/Remind about help features on

the homework software

• Email each student that earned an A and ask for study tips to share. Send those
• ut to the class.

Send “Mid-Semester Check In” emails to all students

• Kudos
• Low grade, may consider withdrawing
• “In-between:” Send a personalized message addressing particular areas that can

be improved

GETTING STUDENTS ENGAGED: PERSONALIZED COMMUNICATION

• Set clear communication expectations with students
• Create email templates – weekly reminders, test

reminder, notice of absence, notice of withdrawal, etc.

• Schedule time at the start and end of each day to

answer all emails

• On weekends schedule time to answer emails once per

day

MAINTAINING BALANCE: STUDENT MESSAGES

• Negative communication in an online class does not encourage a healthy

learning environment. Additionally, negativity can have a mental, and even physical, impact on us.

• It’s OK to be frustrated by emails that contain inappropriate language
• r tone, but don’t convey your frustration in your answer to the student
• Many students are overwhelmed and do not intend their messages to be

rude

• It is part of our role to point out when an email is inappropriate and to

help the student correct the behavior

• Emails are not text messages, nor are they letters

MAINTAINING BALANCE: MANAGING FRUSTRATING EMAILS

Use

“Small” punctuations: periods, commas, and semicolons Proper capitalization “Emphasis” can be conveyed with quotation marks (if bold or italics are not available) It is appropriate, in some cases, to copy and paste the original writer’s email and add in your comments

Avoid

Exclamation Points! (except for congratulatory communications) ALL CAPS: This will almost always be seen as YELLING! Overuse of active voice

ONLINE COMMUNICATION: BEST PRACTICES

I know you are unable to give me my exact grades online. What i was asking was is there anyway i can somehow pass this class. by my homework and quiz grades shouldnt it be concerning that i am barely doing well on my tests wityh the last two grades i have recieved? This class is just as bad as my first class i took on campus. I honestly think that the amount of work that is reguired to be done before the test several weeks later is bogus. I dont see how someone can memorize all those different math problems and equations. No matter how hard i study. Any normal person like i would also have a hard time doing

• so. If te test wasnt based off memorzing all the formulas cause they arent given to us i wouldnt be having

a problem in your class. I didnt get the calculator that you sent me. I was simply asking what can be done so i can pass the class. I need a C for my degree and with those test grades and how the class is weighted i will not pass. ? I didnt go to school here in high school, i went to school in texas but i know up there the teachers did what they had to to help there students pass because failing students make the teacher look bad. unless i am wrong. I am sorry if you think i am being mean, but I am frusterated. I spend all the time i do an homework and take the quizes three time each to make sure i get the best score i can and your practically telling me im on my own because you cant discuss certain things on line? when this is a fully online class?

HOW TO RESPOND?

Meet the them with Grace

• Greet your student
• Recognize their effort in contacting you
• Address their need from a clear head

 Use a list  Remove frustrated tone  Type in Word. Review. Edit. Review. Edit.

• Clarify.
• Encourage them to continue to reach out to you

ONLINE COMMUNICATION: BEST PRACTICES

“Hello [student’s name].” Thank you for contacting me about _____. Let me address your concerns that you’ve shared with me.

• concern #1
• concern #2

So if you meet the requirements mentioned before... “Please contact me with any additional questions. Have a great day!

• Prof. ..."

Tips from our eLearning liaison, Michael McCurdy

Angi Agocs – agocsa@seminolestate.edu Kristine Buddemeyer – buddemeyerk@seminolestate.edu Christina Thompson – thompsonc@seminolestate.edu

CONTACT US: