O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 & Keeping Students Communication Grading ENGAGED!

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Workshop Objectives and Outcomes:  Keeping online students engaged using COMMUNICATION Tips for maintaining frequent and regular communication with students both individually and as a group By the end of this workshop, you’ll be able to apply techniques for:

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Workshop Objectives and Outcomes: By the end of this workshop, you’ll be able to apply techniques for:  Keeping students engaged using FORMAT & CONTENT Formatting your course pages and lessons so information is clear and accessible Engaging students in lectures through frequent interactive material

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Workshop Objectives and Outcomes: By the end of this workshop, you’ll be able to apply techniques for:  Keeping students engaged using ASSIGNMENTS and GRADING Designing online activities, quizzes, papers, tests, and other assignments that are appropriate to your objectives and for the online environment Grading and providing feedback through means appropriate to the assignment and the online format

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Anything that can be taught face-to-face can be taught equally well online: Anything that can be taught poorly face-to-face can be taught just as poorly online

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Agghh! Are online class retention rates really that bad? What can I do?

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Online Student Profiles and Retention Rates  The majority of online students are more mature, highly focused and motivated than traditional classroom students.  Grades are somewhat higher for online students.  General perception: dropout rates are higher for online courses than traditional face-to-face ones.  Technology and lack of personal interaction can impede student success.  Research: most successful retention in classes where instructor is visible and accessible (office hours, online chat, response).

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 To Keep Students Engaged Using COMMUNICATION Be VISIBLE and ACCESSIBLE

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Send frequent update s “newsletters”  Outline what is happening in the current and next weeks.  List assignments and due dates.  Call out special dates to remember. Wanda Class Help Page:

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Send frequent update s “newsletters”

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Make it easy for students to contact you  Create a separate CONTACT page (with a variety of ways to contact you).  Make your address easily accessible.  Make the contact expectations very clear (type of question, format, reply expectations, language, turnaround). Wanda CSKLS : Kathy APGR69:

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 If you don’t make expectations clear…

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Maintain personal contact with each student  Create an assignment where students have to you:  Add questions or comments in your s that encourage a response.  Respond quickly to s and questions (even if it’s just one word).  Use boiler plate (copy/paste) s but add a personal comment.

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Maintain personal contact with each student Respond quickly to s and questions Use boiler plate s but add a personal comment Add questions or comments in your s that encourage a response

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Send “rattle-the-cage” s promptly  “disappeared” students persistently  List assignments they are missing  Suggest a plan to catch up  Remind them about drop dates (once), with and without a W, in a timely manner

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Encourage discussion to keep students engaged  Use chat rooms or message lists on CATE  Makes class less impersonal  Makes them feel committed  Establishes a sense of community  Allows for discussion on lecture topics  Provides space for group work  Reflects an individual’s degree of class participation APGR72:

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 To Keep Students Engaged Using CONTENT Keep it SIMPLE and ORGANIZED

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Create content and formats that keep students engaged  Set up an easy-to-follow schedule in one location Make online “lecture” topics and dates clear Provide clear assignment due dates  Provide clear direction to the content List goals/objectives at the start of each lecture List what has been accomplished at the end  Keep pages short & break up large amounts of text Use images, comics, jokes, colors, linesto break up text  Encourage student interaction with the content Incorporate “quick quizzes.” Ask thought-provoking questions after lecture materials Encourage discussion of lecture materials on the forum Examples:

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Agghh! Grading online assignments… How do I cope?

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Consider the different assignment/classwork formats Try to vary them to keep students engaged  Quiz/test multiple choice format using CATE  Question and written answer format using CATE  Complete essay/paper assignment  Discussion/participation assignment  Attendance/participation activity

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Assignment format pros and cons  Quiz/test multiple choice format  Set up using test/exam module in CATE (can be time consuming for instructor)  Instructor can control access (start/end dates)  Requires less critical thinking on students’ part  Instant feedback on scores  Easy grading!!  Can be used to review lectures and inform students how well they have understood material  Instructor can add feedback for specific questions or the whole test  Question of honor system (who is taking the test?) Examples:

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Assignment format pros and cons  Question and written answer format  Submitted via , CATE test, CATE form or upload  More time-consuming to grade so students don’t get quick feedback on their progress  Can be thought provoking and demand more interaction from students Examples: Test module: Input form:

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Assignment format pros and cons  Complete essay/paper assignment  Submitted via attachment or uploaded to class inbox  Thought-provoking, challenging for students  Very time consuming to grade  Can be technologically demanding on students and instructors! (word processing, skills, file format)

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Assignment format considerations  Participation activity  Discussion via postings on a forum/message board  Small group discussion via or in a chat room  Establish and communicate how this is evaluated and graded (number of messages?)  Good for interactivity and keeping students engaged  Attendance activity: how to assess  Use CATE to track student activity (roster)  Make them send instructor an every week  Gauged by prompt submission of assignments

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Make assignment instructions crystal clear  Provide a due date and points at the top of the assignment Try to set consistent/predictable due dates Have due dates in schedule but not buried anywhere else! Remind students of due dates via List assignments in review at end of lecture (or at beginning)  Break up assignments into simple step by step points Use bulleted items rather than long paragraphs of text. For Q and A assignments in CATE provide individual input boxes for each question.  Be VERY specific about assignment expectations How to submit it ( , upload, input form) Written language expectations (full sentences, grammar) File format requirements Deadlines (are you flexible?) Give links to sample assignments  Be specific about grading criteria Rubric or “maximum points given for…”

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 But even when you make expectations clear…  Assignment Examples Assignment broken into steps: Assignment information in two places: Grading Rubric: LIR30_CPgradingTEMPLATE.pdf

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Agghh! I’ve received all these assignments… How do I organize them?

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Set up a mechanism to keep track of work  Use Outlook folders for ed assignments and CATE tests Set up the folders ahead of time Check and sort EVERY DAY!  Set up folders for attachments and uploaded work Establish a system for naming folders (so you can locate the work!)  Mark assignments received in grade book ASAP Make use of CATE grade book functions Input by hand for ed assignments Use a system to indicate “turned in,” “late,” “missing etc.”

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Examples  Use Outlook folders for ed assignments and CATE tests

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Examples  Set up folders for attachments and uploaded work

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Acknowledge receipt of assignments to keep students engaged  a quick “Thank you!”  Use CATE test module to send feedback Acknowledge that the assignment has been received Send a copy of the assignment to student (choose options carefully)  Set up an archive for students to check assignments Good for assignments that the whole class can look at  Keep the grade book updated Set up a regular day to do this  Use CATE roster to students as a group “Thanks for turning in your assignment” “Just a reminder that the assignment was due…”

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Agghh! Grading, Grading… How can I grade quickly online?

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Think about grading and feedback when you select assignments  Quiz/test multiple choice format in CATE test module  Students get instant feedback  You can add extra feedback in CATE (one place only!)  Scores can go right to the grade book in CATE  You can quickly evaluate how students are doing  Do not necessarily engage student intellectually or keep instructor involved

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Think about grading and feedback when you select assignments  Question and written answer format OR complete essay/paper assignment  Intensive onscreen reading for instructor  Time consuming to grade for instructor  Type feedback in reply or downloaded/attached document  Time-saving techniques  Use a WORD file with boilerplate comments to copy and paste.  Use a grade sheet (in Excel) that adds up points and allows you to type comments  Keep a printed answer key with points

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 Hopefully these tips will help you have students who are… Disengaged Engaged NOT

O N L I N E C O L L E G E P R O J E C T Workshop #2 & Discussion Questions And now…