Create Community & Safe Spaces

Collage

Classroom Space: Web-Enhanced, Hybrid, Online

Blackboard Tools: Discussions, Blogs, Wikis

Other Tools: PowerPoint, SharePoint, Keynote

A collage project can be created utilizing any slide-based software where participants can insert images and text onto a slide. As an icebreaker, traditionally in a face-to-face classroom, participants are asked to bring in an 8 ½ x 11 or poster size document with various items cut from newspaper and magazines or drawn on to the paper. Participants are asked to choose pictures of people, places and ideas that visually represent them. In online environments, this same assignment can be done using slide based software or depending on availability for student, a drawing app or software.

About Me Surveys

Classroom Space: Hybrid, Online

Blackboard Tools: Survey Tool

Other Tools: Google Survey

Generate a list of questions for students about their academic interests, and how they learn. Ask them to complete the survey within the first week of class. Utilze the data for enhancing your personal teaching facilitation. If results will be shared, acknowledge to students that this will not remain private and to consider level of sharing. 

Netiquettes or Expectations Activities

Blackboard Tool(s): Provide with Syllabus / Course Outline & Discussion Board (Asynchronous)

Having set standards for behavior regardless of the classroom space can help define appropriate behavior but also encourage community and provide a safe space for learners. Consider provided students with a list of expectations for behavior. Provide a discussion board forum for students to raise questions and offer suggestions. 

Top 10 or Community Standards

Blackboard Tool(s): Discussion Board (Asynchronous), 

Other Tools: Zoom (Synchronous)

Either synchronous or asynchronous format,  havea conversation about creating community standards generated by the class as a group. Standards created by the community tend to be easier to enforce by members of the community due to the increased level of ownership. COnsider the standards a living document with rules to amend and adjust. Create new standards each term. You can prepares students ahead of time with questions to think of, "what do I need to feel safe," "what environment helps me learn better," etc. 

Talk about Privacy and Personal Sharing

Classroom Space: Web-Enhanced, Hybrid, Online

Blackboard Tools: Posted Material in the Class or include statement in syllabus

Having a statement about personal sharing, campus privacy standards and how you will support students in the classroom available in your class. Be upfront about the topic at the beginning of the class.  

Welcome & Class Introductions

Blackboard Tool(s): Discussion Board

Tools: Google Docs, YouTube, ScreenCast-o-Matic, Google Sites

Regardless of the class format, taking a few moments to have students introduce themselves to the rest of the class can help aleviate anxiety for students new or returning to college. Generate a series of questions for students to answer.

Community or Coffeehouse Discussion Board

Blackboard Tool(s): Discussion Board

Regardless of the class format, have a space inside of Blackboard for students to interact and share activities relating inside and outside of the course. Not related to grading, create a set of guidelines for appropriate behavior but allow students to petition to add or amend guidelines. 

Interview Experts

Blackboard Tool(s): Discussion Board (Asynchronous)

Other Tools: Zoom (Synchronous)

Either synchronous or asynchronous interviews are set up with experts from fields related to your course content. Students can either come to the interview presentation prepared with questions to ask, or they can submit their questions to the interviewee prior to the interview. Either way, students are able to listen to an expert discuss their work or other topics related to their course.

Start a Social Media Group for the Class / Discipline Topics

Tools: LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter

This one is a little tricky and relies on a higher level of comfort, trust and safety for participants depending on the "friending" level of the classmates. For disciplines where individuals will need to develop outside connections, providing a professional space to be part of for class can initially create acdemic connections while in school. 

Student "Report Outs" on Professional Development Websites & Organizations

Blackboard Tool(s): Wiki, Discussion Board, Blog

Tools: Google Docs, YouTube, ScreenCast-o-Matic, Google Sites

Students are given a rubric of criteria and guidelines for searching for professional affliations, organizations and websites to aid professional pursuits. Students report out in whatever format to be determined by faculty. Basic submissions would be posted on discussions boards or on a shared Google doc. More advanced options would be submitted on a GoogleSite, within Blackboard on a class wiki