Workflow Practices using Class Live Sarah Haley

1. Respond to Questions/Concerns First, I check and respond to all . Then I log in and check Questions for the Professor Then I check Problems & Solutions Note: I don’t use the ‘What’s New?’ eCollege feature. I always check Questions for the Prof and Problems & Solutions. And if it’s the first day of a new week, I check the previous week’s Problems & Solutions too.

2. Set up to work I use tabbed browsing to open two instances of the course.* In the second tab/instance of the course, I have the Gradebook open to the current week.* If I am teaching two sections of the same course, I work concurrently on both classes and thus have a total of four tabs open, working step-by-step through my workflow for both classes at the same time. (i.e. check Prob & Sol for both classes, then Assignment 1 for both classes, etc, etc.)* * Caution: Please be aware that some faculty have experienced major issues when opening multiple tabs of the same classroom, so please proceed with caution on this. I have never had issues with this. But I have heard reports of others experiencing technical difficulties when more than one class window/tab is open so please be aware of that possibility.

3. Check All Assignments one at a time Day 6 or 7 I post additional assignment instructions/tips/examples for the upcoming week’s assignments. When I open a discussion forum, I read, respond to and grade any new responses, switching back and forth between my two tabs to use the Gradebook while I work. When finished, I mark everything as ‘Read’ (Show Options>Select ‘All’>Mark selected as ‘Read’). This way, when I go back in the next day, any new postings will distinguishable as ‘unread’.

Discussion Questions (additional details) On Day 2 or 3, I address the whole class, posting follow-up questions/visual examples to further the discussion and continue to check the DQs throughout the week to respond to any follow- up responses/student questions.

Grades I use my trusty ‘Grade Point Sheet’ to help when grading (see above). I have it printed out and taped to bottom of my monitor so I don’t have to open the file and use up valuable screen space. I mark points in the rubric in the Comments section of the Gradebook, but I do not tally a student’s ‘final grade’ until they have fulfilled their Participation requirement. (If they have participated at the time that I grade their assignment, they get a final grade tally. Otherwise, they get a final tally when I go back to the Gradebook on Day 7 or Day 1 of the following week to make one last check for Participation.)

Design/Drawing Assignments 2&3 (additional details) I give initial written feedback to students who post ahead of the due date, and give them an initial grade for their assignment. (I encourage students to post revisions, even after the due date has passed.) The day after the due date, I record a Class Live critique recording for the whole class. (see next slide)

Class Live Critique Recordings Workflow In Photoshop, open every student’s most recent revision for an assignment. Jot down their name in a list as their assignment is opening, and read over their written comments for their submission, using the list to additionally make note of any questions/concerns I will need to address in my feedback to them.

Class Live Critique Recordings Workflow cont… After opening all work for one assignment, switch to the Gradebook tab to grade any assignments that have not been graded yet. Make any additional notes of items I need to remember to address in the feedback recording (if any) Open a new Class Live session and share Photoshop as an application inside of Class Live (Choose ‘Tools>Application Sharing>Share Application>Adobe Photoshop’)

Class Live Critique Recordings Workflow cont… With Photoshop open inside of Class Live, I now go through each assignment, giving each student individual feedback, one after the other in the same recording, following the list of names. I use Photoshop to mark up their work in ‘real time’ while I am talking about their work. Using the list of names, I make note of the approximate time each student’s critique begins in the recording. (Class Live has a timer that keeps track of time for you.)

Class Live Critique Recordings Workflow cont… I keep each critique at 5 mins or less and the whole recording at 30 minutes. If I still have student work left to critique when 30 minutes are up, I stop and record a second session for the remaining work. Because I encourage my whole class to watch the entire 30 min. recording I often address the whole class in the recording, either with general comments at the beginning, closing comments at the end, or with helpful tips/hints throughout the recording.

Class Live Critique Recordings Workflow cont… After recording the session, I title it in the ‘Session Archives’ (‘W1A4 Feedback’). Then I go to the assignment forum and post a note to each student, notifying them that their critique on ___ date with ____ title is in the Session Archives. And I say something to the effect of ‘I would encourage you to watch the whole recording, but if you are limited on time, scroll ahead to the point in time at which your critique starts ____ minutes in.’

Lastly, Critique Assignments On Day 1, I grade the critique assignment from the previous week. I post individual comments in the Gradebook I post an announcement to the whole class in the Critique Assignment forum with general comments on performance/reminders, and refer them to check Comments in the Gradebook for additional details. I post ‘mediating’ comments if needed (i.e. watching to make sure students don’t take offense at the feedback they receive from their peers, for example!)

‘Meet Up’ Sessions Once a week I hold Class Live ‘Meet Up’ sessions. I advertise these as informal, social gatherings and try to get everyone to come (i.e. office hours disguised as a party!). I have my webcam running so students can see me This is also an opportunity for students to get real time help and feedback, so there is no set agenda for the session…I just try to keep it fun and informal and have fun chatting!