Collaborative presentation about Michigan State University fully online Strategic Communications MA

1. Jason Archer
Director of M.A. in Strategic Communication
College of Communication,Arts & Sciences
Michigan State University
Twitter: @jasonarcher
Valeta Wensloff
Undergrad Director & Internship Coordinator
College of Communication,Arts & Sciences
Michigan State University
Twitter: @digimae
KeesaV. Johnson
Learning Designer
Hub for Innovation in Learning andTechnology
Michigan State University
Twitter: @keesav
CONNECTING TO
THE HEART OF
ONLINE
LEARNING
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY College of Communication Arts & Sciences

2. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY College of Communication Arts & Sciences
GETTO KNOW JASON
LIKES
• Long motorcycle rides
• Reading books by the
beach with my wife
DISLIKES
• people without grace
• cats
• Boston Red Sox

3. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY College of Communication Arts & Sciences
GETTO KNOW VALETA
LIKES
• Playing Video Games
• Ireland
• Cosplay (costuming)
• Steam Engines
DISLIKES
• Celery
• Slow elevator doors

4. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY College of Communication Arts & Sciences
GETTO KNOW KEESA
LIKES
• Poetics
• Sushi
• Learning
DISLIKES
• Anything Routine
• Mean people

5. MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY College of Communication Arts & Sciences

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WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY
FROM THE CONFERENCE THUS FAR?
SHARE OUT AT:
#MSUSTRATCOM + #COETC17

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Our Story!
Or "How to Make the Internets
Feel More Like a Friend"

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First up: How We Got Started

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• What if they work full time?
• Have a family?
• 20 needy cats?
How can we serve them?
Who needs learning? Everybody!

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Who needs learning? Everybody!
HOW? We asked! Non-traditional
students often can't attend in person
so....
How about online!

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Online?! Never! Well maybe once...
Most of our students have never taken
an online class.
Who are they? Someone in Puerto
Rico, East Lansing, DC

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Online?! Never! Well maybe once...
Their main fear? Feeling isolated.

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Online?! Never! Well maybe again...
Several methods to bring a sense of
community:

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First: Let's Hang Out
Most students have a Facebook
account. Thus, a natural idea: A group
(but need to handle it differently)

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• This group has course-building
admins but no "regular" faculty
• Students can speak more freely
• Introduce yourself! (Why are you
here? What do you want to achieve?
Hobbies?)
First: Let's Hang Out: A Treehouse

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• Students feel safe = discussion and
sharing
• Encourage them to share by
interacting, answering questions,
occasionally posting fun topics.
First: Let's Hang Out: A Treehouse

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• (Fun topics example: Describe your
job via an animated GIF)
First: Let's Hang Out: A Treehouse

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• Once comfortable, students started
sharing articles, job openings, and
successes!
First: Let's Hang Out: A Treehouse

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• They also shared course challenges,
which provided invaluable feedback
• Encouraged each other, answered
questions
First: Let's Hang Out: A Treehouse

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• OK, once in a while, complaining
• This gives us a peek inside!
• What's too much?
• Too little?
First: Let's Hang Out: A Treehouse

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• Critical: Timeliness of answers to
questions!
First: Let's Hang Out: A Treehouse

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• Phone calls: Jason speaks with
students
• Sure, #OldSchool, and yet...
• It's very PERSONAL
Second: The Usual Suspects

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• Email - responsive! (responsive!)
• #Responsive and #Timely
• If you know you'll be away, let them
know. Students don't mind delays if
they're forewarned.
Second: The Usual Suspects

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Third: F2F
• Meet-ups!

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F2F!
IRL!
WOW!

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Third: F2F
• Tours!
• Potential students (of all kinds)
love to see the facilities.

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• T-shirts - everyone gets excited for
free shirts!
• Builds a sense of community
• Also a greeeeaaaaat photo op! :D
• P.S. Soft shirts are best. Nobody
wants some scratchy ol' thing.
Fourth: #Swag

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• And....FREE FREAKIN'
ADVERTISING! :D
Fourth: #Swag

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• It's about having a connection
• It's about opening yourself up to the
students (within reason!)
• It's about letting them know they're
interesting and important (because
they are!)
Ultimately...

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http://bit.ly/COETC17

38. Jason Archer
Director of M.A. in Strategic Communication
College of Communication,Arts & Sciences
Michigan State University
Twitter: @jasonarcher
Valeta Wensloff
Undergrad Director & Internship Coordinator
College of Communication,Arts & Sciences
Michigan State University
Twitter: @digimae
KeesaV. Johnson
Learning Designer
Hub for Innovation in Learning andTechnology
Michigan State University
Twitter: @keesav
CONNECTING TO
THE HEART OF
ONLINE
LEARNING
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY College of Communication Arts & Sciences