DL Tip of the Week - New Semester Reminders

As we begin another semester, we will be here to post a DL Tip of the Week. We hope you find these helpful. If you have any ideas that you would like to submit for a DL Tip of the week, please submit your idea to HCTC-DL@kctcs.edu.

For your DL Tip of the Week for this week, here are some reminders.

1. Make your class available (if you have not already done so). Students begin checking their classes early on the start date, so please make available by 8:00 a.m.

2. If you are using Third Party Content, please be sure to share all information with your students including help desk numbers. We get many students at the beginning of the semester and it is hard to help them since the content or access to content is not accessible. Many times they do not have course IDs, their access codes, or issues with their access codes, or other related issues. We normally will send these students back to the instructor or to the vendor help desk.

3. Set expectations in the class and make clear how you want (and how often) you want students to access the course. What are the due dates? How long will it take you to grade their work and give them feedback. Generally you want to give feedback within 24-48 hours and you will want to communicate with your students or respond to emails within 24-48 hours.

4. Send your students a welcome message, welcoming them to the class. Letting them know what they need to do first (hopefully you have the NO-SHOW assignment as one thing they need to do first). Where they need to go in the course. Continue with weekly or bi-weekly announcements to help keep your students on track.

5. If you haven't you should provide your students with a course schedule or calendar of what they will be expected to do in the semester and when it is due.

6. Have your No-SHOW assignment ready. They should complete the no-show assignment, typically within  the first 7 days of class. Be ready to report on this and remember you will monitor attendance throughout the term. You must only use academic work related dates, NOT Blackboard access dates.

7. Be sure you are using the KCTCS email account and that you are instructing students to use their KCTCS email address. The KCTCS email address is the official communication tool for KCTCS and both the instructor and the student need to use the KCTCS email when communication about official and academic related items.

8. If you are using test proctoring, be sure you have been added to the KCTCS Distance Learning Test Repository Team Site on thePoint and that you follow the instructions. If you need assistance let a member of the DL Team know.

9. Provide opportunities for interaction. Utilize discussion boards and Blackboard IM and other methods of interaction. Students need to make a connection within the first 2-3 weeks of the course. Setup your Blackboard Profile and have your Students setup their Bb profile and add a picture. This adds some personalization to the course.

If for any reason the links appear broken, if you need help, or if you have an idea for a DL Tip of the Week, please email us at HCTC-DL@kctcs.edu.

Remember if you need assistance, please let a member of the DL Team know.

• Brad Roberts, DL Specialist (Faculty/Student Support) – Lees
• Paul Currie, DL Specialist (Faculty Support) – Hazard, Knott, Leslie, Tech
• Wendy Davidson, LoD Program Coordinator (LoD support and Student Support)