… If you have a smaller class, play together. The analytics helps everyone do a little bit better.”, “We’ve found that constant student contact helps drive student success in courses,” said Jennifer. If you could have any superpower what would you choose and why? Raise your hand if you miss your friends. Give students five minutes or so to gather everything on the list. Your students like to get praised and rewarded. 79% of online students view online programs as at least as good – if not better than – traditional courses, How to Effectively Shift to Online Teaching: The Ultimate Guide, study published in CBE Life Sciences Education, How to Train Faculty to Create Quality Online Courses, How Online Leadership is Changing in Higher Education, How Strategy-Led Digital Transformation Builds Success, How to Write an Awesome Script (Fast) With Dana Haines, When they’re watching the videos (as soon as the videos are assigned, or do they wait until the day before the exam? One of the most important steps that teachers can take to help their English language learners (ELLs) succeed is also one of the most basic: getting to know their students. According to a study published in CBE Life Sciences Education, students prefer lessons that are shorter in length, preferably ten minutes or less. ), Quiz results – individually, and as a class. One of the best practices often recommended for online faculty is to create a “Welcome” message that is the first thing that students see when they enter the online course environment. Another tip to get your elementary students’ engaged in online learning is sustaining their motivation. Students compete in small groups to see who can answer the questions fastest. Your favorite activities work just as well thanks to some awesome (and free) technology tools. Why do you love it? Brainstorm ideas for writing a class mission statement or class values. The purpose of this communication is to welcome the students, establish a comfortable class environment, introduce the class syllabus, schedule, protocols, and to/or establish a weekl… Some ideas: Learning names is an important first day task for teachers and students. Students love learning (and are often surprised) by how much they have in common. Then, ask students to complete the sentence. When teachers use strategies like this, they help “establish a positive classroom climate in which students feel a sense of connection and belonging,” the study authors write. Given our current educational reality, many students are spending a lot more time online … “What was most surprising is our [online] students started succeeding at higher rates.”. Despite the need for online programs and distance education, students participating in online education tend to struggle more than those in face-to-face courses. I am looking forward to the opportunity we will have to learn and grow together in the course. What was your favorite assignment last year? Video analytics help see when students struggle, so you can step in before it’s too late. 1. Inspirational eLearning Quotes To Keep You Motivated “eLearning doesn't just "happen"!It requires careful planning and implementation.” - Anonymous “Students do not learn much just sitting in classes listening to teachers, memorizing prepackaged assignments, and spitting out answers.They must talk about what they are learning… Kelsey Brooke, a 10th grade English teacher at Pinellas High School in Largo, Florida, is sharing hers with students on the first day. Marketing Content Strategist at TechSmith. Ask students to find a GIF that represents how they feel about starting a new school year and post it on the Padlet. Elementary teacher Kristine Nannini’s virtual invite for her kiddos is so fun. Join over 200,000 people who get actionable tips and expert advice in their inbox every month. “I know it’s common for online students to not succeed at the same levels as face-to-face students,” said Robert Rivas, Executive Director of Innovation and Research. For example, you can add a quiz to check comprehension after each of the main points in your lecture. She loves reading a book in one sitting, good coffee, and spending time with her husband and sons. Equity is the biggest obstacle in preparing for online learning, and the … In addition to being a great way to gauge student learning, in-video quizzing decreases mind-wandering and helps students retain the information. If you were stranded on an island what three items would you bring with you and why? Padlet is a free tool where you can create a digital pinboard and share it with your students. Shawn Shreves, VP of IT at Odessa College, explains how Welcome Videos engage students in online learning. “Having the ability to actually see the viewing analytics for the videos can greatly help instructors determine who are high and low performers in the class,” explains Jennifer. Talk to them by name, meet with them all the time, tell them that you care, that they’re real people,” explained Robert. “Dr. You email the link or post it in your LMS. Raise your hand if you are excited to learn in our virtual classroom. Include a welcoming access statement. Bolton took his kids to the beach one beautiful day. It’s also beneficial for students who miss class/lab. © 1995 - 2021, TechSmith Corporation, All Rights Reserved. Here are some ideas starting with: In the room you are in, find…. We know when we build that personal relationship with the student, they’re more likely to perform better in class.”, These videos – especially for a web-based course – helps build the relationship between instructors and students. They realize they’re going to have to do the work. My response came to me in the form of a letter, Dear Student… WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. In addition to frequently interacting with online students via messages, such as to ask if they have any questions about the upcoming quiz, some professors have their students introduce themselves by sharing a few hobbies and interests, so their online classmates can get to know them, too. Who is someone you admire and why do you look up to this person? He decided he would make a quick video lesson for his students about how it’s important to protect skin from the sun, which was a relevant topic they were covering in class.”. Why do positive greetings work? Julie Mason is a Senior Editor at WeAreTeachers. “Early on in the class, students discover they have been ‘caught’ trying to click through the video. Try to make the organization of your course as clear and intuitive as possible, ensuring students … Odessa College, a community college in Texas with more than 8,000 students, wanted to improve their online course success rates. Just use a paper dice template and watch this short video . “These videos – especially for a web-based course – helps build the relationship between instructors and students. Read each statement. If you want to get the school year started off on the right foot, these back-to … To do this, instructors can record their computer screens and narrate instruction, similar to how they teach when standing in front of a PowerPoint presentation and lecturing in a face-to-face class. Students love it, and it helps build that personal connection between students and instructors. It works just as well virtually. Greet students as they come in, and ask them to pick a number from one to ten from the basket that indicates how they're feeling right now – ten (I'm ready, focused, feeling good) to one (I'm tired, grumpy, and would rather be any place else). Its purpose is multifaceted: to welcome new and returning … Students are not robots. First, write your questions. “The only difference is that students can watch videos at their convenience, as opposed to having to be in class to view them.”. If you are new to the district, please contact Student Placement at 612.668.1840 or the New Families Center at 612.668.3700, or via email at sps.department@mpls.k12.mn.us to be placed at MPS Online Learning, prior to contacting MPS Online… Your online course should challenge learners; however, this challenge should lie in the learning process where knowledge and skill sets expand, not in the access to that learning.. A small but impactful step towards easing this access is to create a welcome … In addition to welcoming you to the course, I would like to give you some helpful information and a few hints for successful completion of this course. Build excitement and help students understand that four walls don’t make a classroom, rather the students and teacher do. Students can even download entire videos and watch them when they don’t have an internet connection, such as when they’re on the road. Ask students what they hope for this year (save this “Board of Hope” and share it with students if morale is done or everyone is having a tough day.). ... Website Crashes and Cyberattacks Welcome Students … Dear Students, Welcome to your course! Ask students to raise their hands if the statement is true for them. You can also ask students to type in the meeting chat if they aren’t ready to share out loud. Assign student video projects to allow them to express themselves and branch out in ways they were not able to before. Shorter videos are easier to watch. Just make sure you make your survey private! 10 Netiquette guidelines every online student needs to know. Here are some ideas: Games are always a hit on day one. Here are some ideas: Students copy and paste an emoji (this emoji tool is free and easy to use) that best fits their personality. Added bonus: they learn how to use a tool you can introduce again for quizzes, self-assessments, and feedback. Kahoot is easy to use and free, and this template has everything your kids need to make it their own. Raise your hand if you play an instrument. Help with Your Password … One thing about me that might surprise you is …. Faculty can also capture lab lectures and demonstrations. Will my go-to first day activities work online? Ideally, two-to-five minutes long, in this video instructors introduce themselves, share a little bit about themselves and the course, how to be successful in the course, and share their enthusiasm for the subject. The first day of school is an exciting time: There's a new class full of students to get to know. I truly believe that student engagement is the key to success in an online course. A friendly and detailed welcome … Do you like working in groups? “I know it’s common for online students to not succeed at the same levels as face-to-face students,” said Robert Rivas, Executive Director of Innovation and Research. Plus, don’t miss our special hub for online teaching tips. In this post, I will share some of the methods by which I have worked to try to motivate my online learners to be engaged and control their learning. What are you most worried about this school year? Compared with hours-long lecture recordings, “chunking” up lecture content this way results in increased video views, plus better engagement and retention of the information. “Get to know your students. Nonverb… Remember the days where you gave students notecards and asked them to write down important information like their birthday and their favorite color? The online students are communicated through emails and chat rooms and the welcome wishes for these students … Since adopting these strategies along with a flexible video platform, media views have increased dramatically, course success rates increased, and drop/withdrawal rates decreased, earning them the Aspen Rising Star Award. Students bring these items to your virtual show and tell on the first day. They feel happy when you value their contributions and acknowledge their effort. Welcome Message for Online Students Online students attend their classes and studies online through video conferences and chats. “It allowed students to review the lab content prior to coming to the lab to complete the assessment work. Even when students are separated by distance, instructors can still get to know their unique personalities, with a little effort. All rights reserved. I love photography, web design, and baby giraffes, not in that order. don’t miss our special hub for online teaching tips. “Every student that I have ever talked to has really enjoyed video assignments,” said Jennifer. She recommends that once students finish their tents, you put them together into a Powerpoint presentation. She taught middle and high school English, and is a blended and personalized learning instructional coach. This post is based on a webinar with Odessa College titled “Using Video to Drive Student Success.” Read more about how Odessa chose and implemented the flexible video creating and hosting platform TechSmith Relay in order to support their online student engagement initiatives. Access the technology tutorial located on your My Home page if you are new to the learning Hub, this online learning management system. Based on the success of their campus-wide Drop-Rate Improvement Program, they applied those tactics to engage students in online learning programs, too. At Odessa, building strong relationships worked. Look through the course to … Then, they answer the question that matches the number they rolled. Type a sentence starter in the Zoom chat or share your screen and present a slideshow with a sentence starter on each slide. They get to see that their instructor is a real person. Here are three practical, proven ways of engaging online students in higher education. They become more aware of the instructor presence. Students watch each others’ videos and respond with comments and likes. Ask students questions like, what do you wish I knew about you? Jennifer Lee, Instructional Design and Technology Specialist, recommends this method as long as you keep the videos short. The online students are communicated through emails and chat rooms and the welcome wishes message for these students are sent through mails. Students … Welcome kids to your virtual classroom with an email invitation a few days before. Shawn explains the accountability helps everyone. Vicki Nishioka is a senior research advisor at Education Northwest with extensive experience in evaluation and technical assistance focusing on equity, school climate, discipline, and social and emotional learning in preK—12.. If you are late to the Bitmoji party, welcome! A welcome message, usually sent via e-mail and/or posted in the course discussion forum several days before the course begins, contains orientation and “housekeeping” information that is often presented during the first day of a traditional, face-to-face course. Especially in programs that require students to demonstrate specific skills, video can help them show their knowledge and progress, particularly in hands-on skills and performing arts. Its purpose is to welcome students and give parents an insight into what you expect as well as what students … They can share out loud or type in the chat. All students need is a die that they can borrow from a board game or they can make their own! It’s also a fun way for students to introduce themselves and meet their classmates. Ensure digital equity. They’re encouraged to be more prompt on things like turning in their work, and more engaged when having discussions with their classmates.”. Canvas is the name of the online learning … The digital survey is a virtual replacement (thanks, Google and Microsoft Forms). Draw on these ideas for inspiration so day one is full of fun and not so different after all. Practical, proven ways to engage online students in higher education. “This is particularly important considering the research demonstrating that achievement motivation is often a by-product of social belonging.” In other words, when students feel welcome in the classroom, they’re more willing to put time and effort into learning. Raise your hand if you read a book this summer. “Knowing that’s true for us, we had to do something.” Based on the success of their campus-wide Drop-Rate Improvement Program, they applied those tactics to engage students i… What are you most excited about this school year? Online students attend their classes and studies online through video conferences and chats. Even students at the beginning stages of learning … Everyone is returning to learning after a traumatic six months of learning to live in a … What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? If a student isn’t able to attend, they have the ability to review the content and get caught up before the next course.”. Your students find items in the room they are in and share them in your first virtual class. “Giving faculty the ability to provide their lab lectures online really helped,“ explained Jennifer. Even better? Interactive elements make it fun for students to find and complete assignments. But nothing is more important (and fun) than getting to know your students. I think I will enjoy __________this year. Have virtual dicebreakers! If you had thirty minutes to do anything you wanted, what would you choose and why? When videos introduce one concept at a time. Jennifer describes how Dr. James Bolton uses mobile teaching to relay key concepts. This low prep activity helps students see what they have in common. While 79% of online students view online programs as at least as good – if not better than – traditional courses, online courses typically have a 10-20% lower retention rate. Creating a Positive Presence in an Online … This is one of my favorite icebreakers for the first day of school. … Ideas, Inspiration, and Giveaways for Teachers. As you know, this is an online course. This checklist gives you the exact videos to include in every course so you can easily engage students online. There are so many ways you can welcome your kids using Padlet. Use this tool to take the game virtual. You can create a strong virtual community where students feel connected to you and each other. Add quizzes at specific points within videos to make them interactive and engage students in online learning. “If students know that the instructors know them by name, they know whether they’re logging in or not, they know if they’re reviewing material that they’re supposed to – all this creates a sense of accountability for students. Record on-the-go to create in-the-moment teachable content that goes beyond the walls of your classroom. For many of you, this is your first experience with an online course. Ask them to help their children find three items to introduce themselves (their interests, family, likes/dislikes, etc.). Or you can ask them to choose the emoji that best represents how they feel about distance learning. Sample Student Welcome Letter January 1, 2014 Dear Class Members: Welcome to our online “CLASS NAME”! If you are teaching virtually you may wonder: how will I welcome kids virtually? We love Betsy Potash’s digital name tents . Required in all fully-online courses, this is the first video instructors record and share to engage students in online learning. With many districts across the country opting for online learning, a range of technical issues marred the first day of classes. Help with Your Password and MEID Get the MyInfo App. Editor: I was asked what I would say to a student who was nervous about studying at Thompson Rivers University this fall. Not only does this minimize confusion for online students, but it also helps the online course process feel more personal. I hope you will learn much … They’re not just a series of email messages or chat dialogue boxes. Copyright © 2021. Add an emoji or bitmoji that shows how you feel about distance learning. Why or why not? Welcome Students. Hearing their instructor tell them the steps makes it more relatable and is another key way to build trust and relationship early on, instill confidence in using the online course platform, and gives additional encouragement to engage students in online learning. This video walks students through all the ins-and-outs of how to operate in the course, including the technical how-tos of how to access important documents such as the syllabus, how to submit online assignments, how to login to the chat feature, and more. Online courses provide a different way to study and place different skills from students. How do you plan to welcome kids virtually? “Knowing that’s true for us, we had to do something.”. Learn how to be on your best behavior in an online classroom with 10 netiquette guidelines every online student needs to … The 2020/2021 school year is scary for most of us – students, teachers, and parents alike. What’s your favorite book? If they’re not, he knows it’s crucial to reach out and interact with them one-on-one to help answer their questions. A well-crafted access statement communicates your level of commitment to designing the course in a way that is inclusive and welcoming to all students—including those with disabilities—and provides guidance for students … Email students’ parents prior to the first day of school. Specifically, key metrics to look at include: Biology professor Dr. Thomas Crawford uses analytics to compare how students are performing on assessments and how much they’ve watched of the video lessons. Then, they post it in the Zoom chat! Writing a student welcome letter is a great way to greet and introduce yourself to your new students and their parents. The course starts on August 15th and lasts through December 15th. You could ask an essay question so students can show an example of what they’ve learned. The latest video platforms offer easy ways to add quizzing, and then automatically report quiz results to the Learning Management System (LMS) gradebook or Excel file. Use Poll Everywhere to create your own virtual trivia game (it’s free!). We love Tricia Dougherty’s creation for her kindergarten students in Scranton, PA. This is what makes them motivated to learn online. The message should include vital information for the course and not be your entire syllabus. Students will love visiting their virtual classroom. 2. Then, upload it to your LMS or email it so they can learn more about each other. The first week of school there is so much to cover. Students take turns rolling. 20 Inspirational Third Grade Classroom Ideas, Every Teacher Needs to Know These School Supply Hacks, Join the WeAreTeachers Influencer Network. Here are some ideas: Flipgrid (#Flipgridfever) is a social learning platform where teachers pose a question and students respond in a video. Odessa College, a community college in Texas with more than 8,000 students, wanted to improve their online course success rates. We’ve gathered a variety of Bitmoji classroom examples, inspiration, and an easy-to-follow tutorial. Sample Welcome Message for Online Students Creating a Positive Presence in an Online Course by using welcome letters, welcome videos, or a welcome discussion forum. Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. #1: Reward Students’ Successes. These work for fully online, hybrid, and blended learning courses. A student welcome letter is a great way to greet and introduce yourself to your new students and their parents. You can include presentations, HD-video capture of lab models, and live-action experimentation in the lab. Raise your hand if you miss our school building. When everyone's seated ask students … First, create a welcome video introducing yourself.