Class Participation

Posting Announcements

Online learning requires more self-discipline and time management. This can be a big challenge for students, especially if they are juggling multiple classes, work, health/mental health issues, and/or family obligations. This is also a big challenge when students are new to online the format. You can help by using your announcements (1 per week) to address any of the following: 

• Reminders about upcoming PAL sessions

• Links to campus resources, time management, stress management, or other college readiness topics

• Reminders about upcoming Success Center activity deadlines and tutoring hours

• Encouragement to keep going and reach out for help :)

Announcement Tips: 

• Make them short! Online students are navigating a ton of messages and information right now. Keep messages short and to the point. (i.e. Not a lot of explaining is needed just the message, reminder, or link.)

• Make them personal, friendly, and encouraging! Students have a lot going on right now, and we want to be a support system they can turn to when things are feeling overwhelming or confusing. Keep your communications with your students upbeat and encouraging, and let your personality shine through :).

• Make them multimodal when you can! Online students are navigating a ton of written text in their courses right now. Try to send short videos (. . . no more than 2 minutes at the very longest. The more succinct the better!!), embed images, and link to other resources when it's relevant. 

Send direct messages to students:

You can also send and receive direct messages to students via Canvas Inbox and students can directly message you via Canvas Inbox. 

• Click here for a link to the a tutorial on using Canvas Inbox and messaging your students. [Link coming soon]

• Please be sure to log a record of your emails using this form [Link coming soon].

In online settings, users tend to not access links and other resources if they are confusing or hard to find. Help make your PAL services easy to access through the following techniques:

• Link Accudemia on your PAL group homepage. Be sure your hours are accurate & visible. Be sure your calendar is accurate and accessible. 

• Add a "PAL Introduction" video that explains who you are, how you can help, and how to make appointments.

• Remind students to use the PAL Button on the course navigation page to find your information.

Connecting with students is the best way to encourage them to attend your sessions. To do that, make yourself visible during online discussions by posting any of the following when you have down time.

• The first post on a discussion board to get the conversation started and provide sample (Ask your professor to make sure they don't mind if you post first.)

• A shout-out that celebrates an interesting insight, perspective, or question a student posted

• A reply to individual student posts with encouragement or follow-up questions

Reminder: PALs should not grade or give points for discussion posts. If an instructor asks you to award points, please gently remind them of this policy and let the PAL coordinators know.

This can include. . .

• Giving suggestions of group activities/self-paced activities that complement an essay or assignment in your class.

• Recommending group activities/self-paced activities in tutorials or group sessions based on topics covered.

• Sharing PAL resources to help students find/access group activities/self-paced activities.

• Sending reminders about Success Center activity deadlines and upcoming group activities/self-paced activities..

• Encouraging students to make appointments for group activities ahead of time and to register for self-paced activities.

Did you know students who complete at least 3 activities with a writing tutor are more likely to succeed in their English class? Promoting group activities is a great way to help set up students for success. 

This could include. . .

• Using discussion boards as a way to connect with students online.

• Sharing a segment of your reading notes or the notes you took on the professor's video lecture to advertise a strategy you'll show during your session that week. 

• Making guest appearances on your instructor's mini-lectures. 

• Recording  a brief conversation about a reading or upcoming assignment with your professor. 

• Helping students formulate questions to ask the professor via email or on a Class Q&A Discussion Board.

• Adding a post that addresses a major point students might have overlooked in their comments.

• Reaching out to a student who hasn't posted on the class boards or who you haven't seen in sessions. Inviting them to a session or asking them if there's anything you can help them with :).