Welcome Email

Hello, everyone!

Welcome to MIT813: Digital Literacy for the Fall 2025 8-week Session (October 13-December 12). I am glad you are here! I am Dr. Elodie Jones, and I will be your facilitator, teacher, and co-learner this semester. More information about me can be found on the course site (links at the top), and an introduction video will be available in Engage this week. Please take your time reading through the MIT813 Syllabus (on the website) and note my Health and Wellness Statement. Lastly, if Google tools or Engage (or any tools) are new to you, be patient, kind, and graceful to yourself - it can be a bit overwhelming. However, I promise you will get the hang of it and be a pro soon! If you "knew all the things," why would you be here? You are in a safe space for learning, questioning, sharing, growing, experimenting, etc. I am all about progress over perfection!

Beginning the first week (Monday, October 13):

1. As MIT n813 begins, please link to our course site and read through and watch the introduction video on the welcome page, plus read over the syllabus, guidelines, explore the format of the website, the Standards, etc., and become familiar with how the course is set up, as well as the impending assignments ahead. The syllabus lists texts as optional because I transitioned this course away from textbooks. You do what is best for you as a learner, but there are plenty of online resources beyond what I offer to capture the essence of each topic. Take your time looking over everything...You have PLENTY of time to explore and tackle assignments in the first week. 

2. After reviewing the course site and bookmarking the MIT813 website, I ask that you join our Private Engage Community*. This is a space where I will "host" a space for each assignment, and you will "post" your work! The Engage Community will also be a space to discuss, share, and provide peer feedback with peers and me. To join, you will use this link, ask to join our 813 Community, and then I will approve your admission promptly.

*Please be patient and in the mindset that your instructor engages in a spirit of experimenting, trying new tools, and wanting to know what is best for student learning, communication, sharing, and peer review(s). Many of my students have shared that Engage is a bit of a "shift" from other tools, but they love it for its ability to engage and interact with peers. I appreciate your flexibility!

3. To begin your assignments, you will refer to the “Outline of Assignments” under the Assignments Tab on the MIT813 website, which outlines all your assignments/is a course calendar. The first assignment is the Introduction Video, in which you will read the instructions and then post your video in Yammer under the appropriate Discussion thread. Please keep your intro video brief, under 3 minutes. Therefore, you must plan what you will candidly share in advance. Rambling is easy, but concise writing and speaking take intentionality. Again, this information is all on the MIT813 website under the “Assignments” tab, and there you will also locate the Discussion Board prompts and Mini Assignment links.

Please follow the due dates on the calendar-based chart and note that everything is due by 11:59 PM, including peer-to-peer comments/discussion/interaction. If people post at the last minute, you can use the next day to get in and leave peer comments/feedback/discussion. I get it! 

As we begin this course, Engage is your community, and it is a place to post and host class-oriented discussions and assignments, plus professional discussions, inquiries, readings, findings, etc., with your colleagues! The more we share, the better! If you have any questions, please post in Engage and tag me in the post. Putting it out there allows everyone to learn and benefit from your question(s). Do not hesitate to email me if something seems off, etc. I am human and I make mistakes! Thank you! 

So, to get this straight before you begin, note that we are using three locations:

1. The 813 syllabus, assignments, and course resources and Standards (ISTE, ACRL, APA, etc.) are on our MIT813 Google Site. (Check out the whole site and the list of Assignments, DBs, and Mini Assignments in a drop-down list/link)

2. All course discussion boards, peer reviews, interactions, and projects/assignments are posted in our private Engage Community (use the link, ask to join, and I will approve your admission promptly) 

3. Course grades and instructor feedback are input/updated in Blackboard via FHSU Student Resource

Consider This:

• -Bookmark all three locations above for quick access if you like. 

• -Take your time exploring - there’s no rush! We have plenty of time to get rolling. 

• -If you are new to FHSU and/or Google tools, Engage, etc., please be kind to yourself as you learn new things and ease into the idea of change.

• -If anything comes up over the semester, contact me ASAP to work through anything that pops up together. Communication is key! I want you to have a wonderful experience!

• -Lastly, I value you, your time, and your wellness. Make sure you visit my Health and Wellness Statement (also located on the Syllabus).

Again, welcome, and have a great first week! Do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns.

Be well, 

Dr. Jones