Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Activity 7Teaching Online
Day Two: Communication
Agenda: Day Two
0Introduction to the Course and to You!0Communication Tools
0 Announcements0 Email0 Folder/Unit Instructions
0Video files0Audio files
Introduction to the course0Begin by writing an introduction to the course that
sets the tone for what you hope to accomplish.0Be somewhat upbeat but clear about your
expectations.0Provide students with a simple task or two to verify
that they can navigate the course.0Post the introduction in Announcements and on the
course home page.0Send introduction via email.
Topics to consider for the course introduction
0 In addition to your name and contact info, discuss the best ways and times for students to ask questions.
0Encourage students to contact you early with concerns about technology or course requirements.
0Explain how course content will be delivered online.
0Provide some basic instructions about submitting work or sending emails.
0Address the issue of academic integrity.
0Discuss problem of procrastination.
Video Introduction?
0 Can cover the same ground as the written introduction.
0 Provides the students with a sense of connection.
0 Can be very brief! 0 Tape it while in a brick-and-mortar
class session.0 Consider setting up a Skype session
or two for a brief meeting with new students.
Communication Tools: Announcements
Blackboard includes an Announcements bar in the left-side menu of all courses. Click there to open the Announcements function.
Then click on Create Announcement to create a new announcement.
Announcement creation page
Type the announcement title and text in the top boxes.Then select the dates you want the announcement to be visible.Also, consider emailing the announcement to the students.
Communication Tools: EmailOne marvelous aspect of Bb is that your students can never say that they did not receive your email. Bb is a closed system with all contacts already entered for you.In your emails to students and theirs to you, try to keep a few guidelines in mind. 0Write descriptive Subject lines0Keep it short0Be clear about what you want0Use numbers if you have more than one topic0Be civil-No all caps and no irony0Let them know you got it
Communication Tools: EmailConsider asking students in your syllabus or introductory email to follow the same guidelines.
Also, remind students that they are responsible for following up on questions, requests, and submissions. So here are three more guidelines for student emails.
0 Give your professor 24 hours to respond or 48 if you send a weekend email.
0 Do not send emotional emails. Ask politely for if you want extra time or make an appointment to discuss your grades.
0 Follow up-remember that your professor may have over 100 students this semester. Your email may have gotten lost in the deluge.
Communication Tools: EmailMail is another tab that Bb automatically includes in your course
menu.
EmailBb does not currently allow for the creation of sub-folders. The only changes that you can make to emails in the Inbox are to mark them as read or unread. To contact the class , individual students, or groups of students, begin by clicking the blue Create Message button.
Email0Once you have opened a new message, click the To button
to see a list of students.0Click on each name you want, and then click the arrow in
the center of the To box to move the name to the recipients list.
Note that the Compose Message box at the bottom of the screen offers you options similar to Outlook.
The icons I circled represent the attachments you can add to an email: document files, images, audio and video files, and hyperlinks.
0 Sending hyperlinks via email will allow students to link to YouTube videos—something the content pages block.
0 The other attachment options require that you import the file into your course library before attaching them to the email.
In the next few slides, I will take you through the process of attaching a file to an email.
The screen to the right is the first one you will see when you click to add an attachment to an email.
Click the Browse Course button in the Insert content Link box (above), then the Select File or Folder box will appear (on left).
You will click the blue Upload button.
The 3rd box that will appear is the Upload Multiple Files and Folders (on right).
Click the Browse button.
Browse your computer to select the correct file.
Once your have selected that file, the box will list your file by name. You may upload more than one file. Then click Submit.
EmailYou file will be uploaded to your file library (see image to right).
Click the box to the left of the file Name to select the file. Then click Submit.
Another box will appear: the Insert Content Link box. Check that your file is listed there and then click the blue Submit button.
EmailYou are still not finished!
The Add Content Link box (below) will appear.
Click Submit.
EmailSeveral minutes later . . .
You have an attachment imbedded in your email.
Files again
The one upside is that the file is now in your library, making it much easier to send to the next student.
Communication Tools: Folder and Unit Instructions
Think of each unit of study in terms of the time you would spend on that unit in a brick-and-mortar classroom. How would you introduce and structure that unit for your face-to-face meetings?
For an online class, you still need to provide those instructions—either in writing or as an audio or video file.
0 Email and/or post as an announcement the instructions for each unit.
0 Include dates in the instructions or require students to look at and copy the course calendar to their blog.
0 Provide a weekly “to do” list.0 Use the file folder text to include instructions.0 Include an “Instructions” file in each unit or week.
Folder and Unit InstructionsDue this week!
Folder and Unit Instructions
Instructions in unit folder—also emailed to students a week before each unit starts.
Video filesConverter: http://video.online-convert.com/convert-to-mp4 (Converts to .MP4)Windows
- Windows Media Audio/Video Files (.WMV)- Most PCs have a windows media player
File compatibility- Try to run your files on both PC and Apple devices- Apple devices usually run the following file types:
.FLV, .AVI, .MOV, .MPG, .3GP- Check what kinds of files are supported by windows Media Player at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316992
Audio filesEvery PC and Mac has some sort of audio recording program—like Sound Recorder
As with the video files, compatibility is an issue. This free converter allows you to use any recording software and then convert the file to a more widely used format like .MP3.
Converter: (converts to .MP3)http://audio.online-convert.com/convert-to-mp3
We will return to audio files when we discuss lectures, but it is a good idea to play with them a bit before starting to record lectures.
Afternoon ReviewAgenda
Tasks
0 Record audio and video intros0Write and post course intro0Create an announcement0Send an email with an attachment0Create unit Folders0Write weekly or unit instructions and post
on Content Folder and in Instructions0Convert video and audio files
