Ongoing Communications are Important for Online Learners

Students in an online environment need frequent communications to keep them on-track and engaged with their learning. Ongoing and recurrent forms of communication will provide your online students with the sense of a learning community and help them stay focused on course tasks. In face-to-face courses, you often give reminders about up-coming assignments and assessments, and you need to intentionally do the same for remote learners. Below are some suggested ideas for staying in touch with your students and keeping them informed about the course schedule and benchmarks.

• Weekly announcements
  The Announcement tool in Canvas is an excellent way to broadcast information to the entire class. Use announcements to provide a description about the week’s content, activities, and important due dates. Consider including a To-Do list about the action-items students need to complete.
• Repeated contacts
  Provide the class with periodic messages through the Canvas Inbox. Apply these communications to reach out and check-in with students about how things are going and any difficulties they may be experiencing. This can also be an opportunity to offer the students encouragement, motivating statements, and acknowledge their good efforts and progress.
• Course related questions
  One method for managing course questions is by creating an open Discussion where all inquiries can be posted and shared. This can help reduce individual emails by providing a one-stop area for all students to view instructor responses to various questions and concerns.
• Scheduled office hours
  Establish virtual office hours when you will consistently be available to answer questions and provide assistance. Inform the students about which communication format you will be using such as the Canvas Inbox, the online Chat function in Canvas, or log into the Exchange to learn about creating reoccurring Zoom meetings.

Keeping your online students informed, connected, and aware that you are available to help them is an important factor for promoting student success.