Part 6: Effective Course Communication
Introduction
Effective communication is essential for student success. Students need to know assignment due dates, course learning objectives, instructor contact information, and how to locate course readings and assignments. The best instructors provide student access to this information across multiple methods of delivery, and repeats it throughout the semester. Furthermore, effective course communication leads to students who have an increased sense of course accountability, greater investment in course material, and who achieve higher learning outcomes.
This module will introduce you to the basics of effective classroom communication utilizing (primarily) digital tools. It will also provide access to outside learning resources.
Learning Objectives
By the end of Part 6 you should know:
- The importance of a well-designed syllabus to establish course goals and expectations, and how you can ensure student access to and mastery of it.
- How the online calendar can be utilized to improve the likelihood of assignment completion and decrease student apprehension.
- How you can employ the news feed to increase student accountability, reduce student anxiety, and cut the time wasted during face-to-face instruction.
- How the Classlist feature can facilitate course communication and track student progress.
- How to employ intelligent agents and string replace codes to increase student interest and satisfaction in the course.
