Chat Sessions
I think sending a reminder message about my weekly chat sessions will really come in handy for my classes. I know it depends on the students schedule but perhaps a reminder will encourage them to make time. I'll have to try this out.
Chat times are posted in the course syllabus. Nevertheless, sending reminders may encourage the apathetic students to participate.
Announcment of the topics to be discussed during the chat is also helpful, especially if these topics are directly applicable to the graded assignments.
William,
The more the students see "value" in the chats the more likely they are to connect and participate. Are your chat sessions, or a number of them, required or are they all optional? I do live sessions with my students and they are optional. Usually the strong students that probably don't need the sessions are the ones likely to connect and the ones that really need to connect are less likely too.
Herbert Brown III
William,
The more the students see "value" in the chats the more likely they are to connect and participate. Are your chat sessions, or a number of them, required or are they all optional? I do live sessions with my students and they are optional. Usually the strong students that probably don't need the sessions are the ones likely to connect and the ones that really need to connect are less likely too.
Herbert Brown III
It is important to remind our students about our live chat schedule
Dr. Karina,
How do you find is the most effective way to remind the students about the schedule? For me, some students attend live session but others don't. Have you found any ways to get more students to attend the live sessions?
Herbert Brown III
I agree that sending reminders about chat can help attendance. I try to include these reminders in my weekly emails. I also go over assignments in depth and provide resources to assist them in assignments. Once I inform students of this it tends to increase attendance. Of course every class has their own dynamic. Sometimes you will have a high live attendance while other time you will be in the chat by yourself.
Afrodite,
As long as we are making the effort and encouraging the students than we are doing the right thing. It is sometimes hard to get participation, but the more value they see in the sessions the more likely students will attend.
Herbert Brown III
I always have trouble getting students to my chats in real time, but I know that they listen to the recordings because they use the material I offer during the recordings in their assignments. However, I still try to get them to join me live. One technique I use is to provide chat reminders that contain a bit of dramatic tension...such as "What lies in the Smithsonian Museum of American History between Julia's Whisk and Archie Bunker's Chair? Find out during this week live chat!" Sometimes I feel a bit silly, but its no crazier than things I have done in f2f classes to get students to listen!!
Jane,
I like the promotional trailer idea. Has it worked for you? Have you surveyed your students as to why they have not attended the LIVE session, but are watching the recordings? Could it be a problem with the times/days and their personal schedules?
Herbert Brown III
The promotional trailers definitely work! And yes, when students don't attend "live" it is definitely a timing issue. However, I do the best I can with the timing! At the beginning of class I schedule the first week's chats for Monday and Tuesday, morning and evening, but always ask students to let me know if they have a preference that is otherwise. If they do, I adjust the times. But it is still impossible to find times that can work for everyone.
Jane,
I have the same issues. I try to find the best time for the majority of students, but that is almost impossible. However, if it is a topic students are really struggling with, they typically find a way to fit it in their schedules.
Herbert Brown III
Jane,
I have the same issues. I try to find the best time for the majority of students, but that is almost impossible. However, if it is a topic students are really struggling with, they typically find a way to fit it in their schedules.
Herbert Brown III
I can say that I do send out reminders to my students and I feel that this does help them to remember to do their assignments. I also feel that I am establishing more of a relationship with them while I am sending out that reminder. I will get students who write back to say thank you, which then will sometimes lead to small talk about themselves.
I will post chat times at the beginning of the class in a announcement. Then as each week approaches I send out a reminder email and post a reminder in the announcements or message board.
