Private or Public?

• Set appropriate privacy levels for public access and peer access. 
  
• The entire Instructional Team must be given access to each blog/site, regardless of privacy levels.
• For individual sites, your choice depends on your comfort level and whether the content is yours to make public
  
• Team websites may be public all term long, if desired. 
  
• Websites must be made public at the draft deadline to enable a broader group of stakeholders, including prospective presentation audiences, to have access
• Your team may use a private Google Site for project management (internal discussion, to do lists, calendar, time trackers), but Google Sites has limited MB capacity for file sharing.

• Respect ethics, privacy and copyright when posting information on public forums
• Be careful with private telephone # , email addresses, images, etc.
  
• No consent forms or raw interview data
• Cite all images, media and textual sources, and obtain consent to post images of other private people.  
• Ensure you collect enough information for your required APA reference lists/pages, especially for images and websites
  
• No grade information will be posted on public sites, only publicly-appropriate feedback and comments
  

• 
  ^{Image: T. Smith, 2009, with subject's consent}
  

  
  
  If your team's project management site is not private, or if you prefer some or all of Bb functions as a team, use Group Pages - File Exchange and Discussion to share files & information with EC, Peers, and Instructor. 
• Subscribe to your team's discussion forum so you receive notices by email, or check it regularly.
  
• For team-wide or general, simple updates & questions, use your team's Discussion area rather than email so that it can immediately be shared and it can be archived for participation records
  
• Blogs and Websites will be "submitted" according to the instructions given ( TBA )
  
• To submit files to the instructor alone (i.e. research ethics forms and raw data) use Tools - Digital Drop Box - Send file
• Ensure it gives you a "submitted" date after sending.  If it says "posted on," Dr. Smith does not have it yet.
  
• Bb Drop Box does not notify the instructor.  If the item is not expected there, notify Dr. Smith by email.
  
• Dr. Smith will use Bb gradebook and will often use Bb email for communication with you. 
  
• Make sure your Bb email settings are up to date so that you do not miss important email, i.e. class cancelled, extended deadline, last minute exam tips.
  

Whom do I ask?

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  ^{T. Smith, 2009, with consent}
  
  Dr. Smith -- course structure, content, policies, assignment requirements, grading standards, learning resources, team crisis, individual accommodations, technology issues.  Tell me if you are feeling discouraged, overwhelmed or confused and give me the chance to do something about it (if possible) before it gets worse.
  
• Community & Campus Partners -- website audience needs/expectations, resources related to their networks and areas of expertise, knowledge about their organization's communication practices
• Carmen -- mentoring on technology, support for course design & technology, community service learning, career mentoring, community development & sustainable development knowledge
• Editorial coordinators -- internal team communication & coordination of tasks, chairing of meetings, internal deadlines, team technology use, team challenges
• Peers -- collaborative learning, study groups, lecture notes and meeting notes, assignment brainstorming or outlining, technology tips, mutual encouragement and morale, peer review of drafts, team website editing, proposal & presentation planning. 
• Writing Center, Counsellors, Librarians, Program advisors -- what does your hard-earned tuition pay for? Take advantage of all the educational and social support the university is offering to you.  Many of the best and most successful students do.  Even the strongest among us often need support.
  

Course Communication Values & Principles

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  ^{Image: T. Smith, 2009, with subjects' consent}
  
  Learn actively, take initiative.  Seek and share advice and assistance.  Do so regularly, and as promptly as needed. Don't be too hesitant to approach the instructor after class, by email, or make an appointment.
  
• Strengthen your interpersonal professional communication skills.  Be clear and honest about your needs and boundaries.  We each have different skill levels, social expectations, life challenges, motivations, and backgrounds.  Attempt to resolve misunderstandings between one another before appealing to others.  Extend your capacity for humility, patience and good will.  Assume the best of one another's intentions unless you have confirmed evidence to the contrary.  Words and actions do not mean the same thing to everyone.  When in doubt, ask.  When concerned, speak.  When confronted or offended, pause to listen, clarify and ponder before you choose your words & behavior.
  
• Make team communication & tasks visible to the instructor so that she can assist promptly as needed and observe your interaction and participation.  Also keep transparency as needed among group members.  However, respect one another's privacy and confidentiality, especially on sensitive topics.
  
• Be responsible and accountable.  Inform Dr. Smith, ELs, and peers (as needed) regarding illness, lateness, challenges and delays, etc.