1. Miami University,
February 2014

2. Kari Frisch
Communication Instructor
Central Lakes College
Email: kfrisch@clcmn.edu

3. DON’T WORRY…
THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE ….
A DEATH BY POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION !!!!

4. THE TIPS I’M GOING TO SHARE:
• Work for me.
• May not all work for you.
• Might not all work for your discipline.
I GET THAT. BUT…
• Hopefully, you’ll still get a few “gems” that will work for
you and your discipline. But first…

5. •I used to assume these were
common practices
•Now I include them in my
presentations
•*

6. •Have everything ready before students
need it
•Use outlining methods
This keeps the class running efficiently
and keeps students on track=more likely
to be successful!

7. •Check in often
• Respond ASAP
This helps build trust and
accountability with students.
•*

8. • Find your inspiration
• Engage Different Learning Styles
• Have Fun
This helps keep class fresh and fun for you
and your students.
•*

10. •Release information only for that upcoming week.
•Include dates in subject line as well as week #
•Use reverse uploading (most current at top)
•Make logical sequence for students
•Use outline format
This helps keep content more ADA-friendly (less scrolling
for all of us). Weekly release keeps them engaged yet not
OVERWHELMED!

11. Example:

12. Personalized weekly notes in two parts:
•Top portion: Notes for all Classes
•Bottom portion: Class Specific Notes
This helps develop a sense of immediacy, helps tie weeks’
content together, gets out other important information.
Students know I’m in “real time” with them.

13. Examples of note points:
•
•
•
•
•
Words of encouragement
Reminders about policies
Tips on LMS (collapsible content)
Further explanation of difficult chapter concepts
“Heads up” about unusual assignments or special
needs for the future
• School notices that we’ve been asked to pass on
(financial aid pickup, college surveys, graduation info,
special events, etc.)
• Assignment clarification/directions/examples

14. Examples of notes:
• Notes Example #1 Interpersonal:
• http://tinyurl.com/nvv68xl
• Notes Example #2 Mass Comm:
• http://tinyurl.com/lshnsnc

15. Notes help connect me to my
students

16. How about connecting students to
each other?
I try and do that from day one…

17. ACTIVE LEARNING BREAK
ICE BREAKERS !!!

18. ACTIVE LEARNING BREAK
1. If you could own a non-traditional pet, what would it
be and why?
2. What would you consider your greatest strength and
your greatest weakness as a person when it comes to
your character?
3. What is the craziest thing you have done in your life so
far and how did it change you?
4. If you had the chance to do anything in the world
what would that one thing be and why?
5. If you could change any one thing about the way
society is today; what would it be and why?

19. •Student-created
• Post one weekly if possible
This helps foster a sense of
community.
•*

20. QUESTIONS FOR CLASSMATES
Week 1: I usually start with two, 2-part questions, listed as “Kari’s week 1
questions”, one set per “forum”:
Question Set #1
Part A) Where do you consider yourself from and why?
Part B) What are you going to school to study?
Question Set #2
Part A) How many online classes have you taken before?
Part B) If you have had one or more online classes before, what advice might you
give someone taking an online class for the very first time? If this is your
first online class, what do you think you need to do differently in order to
be successful in this online learning environment?

21. Here are some examples of past questions from students for students.
General questions:
If you could own a non-traditional pet, what would it be?
If you had the chance to do anything in the world what would that one thing be and why?
If you could change any one thing about the way society is today; what would it be and why?
If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be and why?
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you bring with you and
why?
Dogs or cats? Which do you prefer and why?
What, if anything, would you do differently with your life if you won the lottery today?

22. Here are some course specific examples I thought were fun:
Mass Communication
Where do you go to get your news and is the internet helping or hurting news media?
What movie has had the most impact on your life? Explain your answer.
Intercultural Communication
What language would you want to learn to speak fluently and why that one over all others?
Choose one country you’d like to visit and one person (living or dead) from that country that you
would like to be your tour guide and explain why you chose as you did.
If you were visiting the country of your choice, would you rather remain in familiar, "Americanized"
resorts or would you prefer to stay/travel with a local from that country? Why?
Interpersonal Communication
What is the biggest difference between distant learning and in class learning?
How do you feel about talking in front of people you don’t know?
Online Social Networking
What is your favorite Facebook game and how often per day, week, or month do you spend on it?
What effect do you think texting has had on other forms of communication?

23. TABLE FORMAT THAT INCLUDES :
•Assignment Order (number the items down the first column)
•Check-off/Completion Column
•Assignment Title, Directions, Location, Grading Criteria
•Due Date by Specific Day, Date and Time (Wed. February 22, 1:00 pm)
•Total Points Possible
•Learning Objectives (so they know why they’re doing it)
This helps keep the students and the course organized.
•*

24. Examples of Assignment
Schedules:
• Assignment Schedule Example #1 Mass Comm:
• http://tinyurl.com/lbpjl7g
• Assignment Schedule Example #2 Interpersonal:
• http://tinyurl.com/m7r7jlh

25. •WEDNESDAYS at 1:00 pm
• FRIDAYS at 1:00 pm
This gets students into course early
and helps prevent total
procrastination.
•*

26. Here’s some other notes about my schedule:
 The type of work due Wednesday is smaller (point-
wise and work-wise) so that it is manageable.
 It used to be Tuesday and I’d get complaints, don’t
get very many now that it’s Wednesday.
 Be clear and upfront in syllabus.
 This also allows me time to do a turn-over or a
layered assignment for Friday because there’s still
enough time between 1 pm Wednesday and 1 pm
Friday for a small Part 2 assignment.

27. Continued:
 I always release the upcoming week’s work (notes,
assignment schedule, and anything with a release
date) at 3 pm on the Friday prior to the start of the
week.
 This allows students the chance to work on homework (or at least
pop in to see what the week will look like) over the weekend.
 To me the weekend is meant for being proactive not
for procrastinating—so I set up class that way


I can usually count students who are “on-top” of their studies
to be the first ones in and it’s a good check-in for me.
If there is an issue I can usually have it fixed before the
majority of students have logged in for the week.

28. Continued:
 When asked why 1 pm, I respond that it is the time
that works best for me.
 I like the fact the time is during a time when I’m online
 and when our staff is around and available to answer
question if needed (tech support and D2L support)
 1:00 pm deadline vs Midnight deadline
 Think about who typically has the most issues with
following directions? When do they do their work?
 If the procrastinators have technical issues, who is
there to help?

29. • One point (only on quizzes and surveys)
• Only to first person who properly
reports the error (must include student
name, class, quiz/survey title, question
number, error and what the error should be)
This promotes real accountability and
improves course communication.

31. Can you be the first?
http://tinyurl.com/l3benzu
http://tinyurl.com/meg8d87

32. •Courses
• Assignments
• Opportunities
This help keep students engaged
and connected to content.

33. I have students take Learning Style Assessment
and try to hit all learner types. For example…
 Playlists (use for survey, and I frequently have students





create a playlist based on a theme)
Videos (as supplemental content, as tutorials, quiz
them on videos, search & report on videos and soon
will have them create their own videos)
Word Scrambles
Fill in the missing word in this quote
Interpersonal interview assignments
Photo Assignments

34. •Due dates/times
• Repeat-type assignments
•Class Policies
•Grading
This gets students into a routine and
helps class management.

35. For Example…
 Classmate Questions in the discussion area are always





due Wednesdays
Survey of the past week’s learning objectives – always
due Wednesdays
Chapter Quizzes are always due on Fridays
I try to be consistent in grading (two communication
errors equals a ½ point deduction with one freebie.)
Chapter Quizzes are always 25 points
AND…

36. No Late Work- No Exception
 Again, this is what works best for me, it might not work for




you.
There’s also enough points in my class that students are
really in control of their own grade, even if they miss a
week or two.
Extra-credit if offered is offered to all—I think that’s more
fair. Small amount and usually at end of semester.
I don’t have to judge excuses and they don’t have to makeup a “good enough” excuse to be accepted.
My students know up front that this is their “give” in our
give-and-take relationship because of my next item…

37. TIERED RANDOMIZATION:
•Question Order
•Answer Options within the question itself
•Questions Selected
I’ve found this helps relieve student and
instructor stress so we can focus on
active learning.

38. Other benefits:
 Helps me reinforce no-late work policy (Can do work




ahead of time if possible and only with advance
notice)
Allows students to manage their own grade better
Students still put in the time they probably would have
otherwise
Allows for real life interruptions that my students
encounter (ie tooth story)
As I mentioned before reduces their anxiety and mine!

39. •Student Self Assessments
• Concept Application
• Course Effectiveness
This helps keep students and
instructor connected to the
learning objectives.

40. Other benefits:



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Gives me statistical data to use for other assignments
Helps keep the class dynamic
Helps students connect to information personally
Gives me information on whether or not I’m accomplishing my
goals (or how well) = Course Effectiveness
 Reinforces students accountability/responsibility (I ask, “Do you
feel you have a foundational understanding of Chapter 5?” and
follow it up with “How much of Chapter 5 did you read?” (And
yes, I think students are pretty honest)
 I’ve used some statistics outside of that class (support why our
online class tallies shouldn’t be raised, discuss whether students
think they would have cheated if the tests had not been open
book—this one is scary honest)

41. Examples of Surveys/Survey Results:
Self-assessments:
• Survey Example #1 Social Media Online Usage Results:
•
•
http://tinyurl.com/m6hvwxc
Survey Example #2 Social Media Facebook Results:
•
http://tinyurl.com/mkkrdxz
Concept Application:
* Survey Example #3 Interpersonal Windows/Mirrors
http://tinyurl.com/ny2xvfg
* Survey Example #4 Intercultural Windows/Mirrors
http://tinyurl.com/lpabnhd
Course Evaluation:
• Survey Example #5 Mass Comm Assessment of wk9
•
•
http://tinyurl.com/kqcrubq
Survey Example #6 Interpersonal Final Eval
•
http://tinyurl.com/llmapky

42. •Between the student and the content
•Between you and the student
•Between the students themselves
This helps build a stronger sense of
community and helps more holistic growth
of your students (and dare I say you as the
instructor too).
•*

43. Examples Between Student and
Content:
• Have students share personal experiences
• Think about different learning styles
• Give options to meet those styles
• Active learning opportunities beyond tests
• Windows & Mirrors (see resource list)

44. Examples Between You and
Student:
• Use personal experiences
• Share photos and videos
• Be personable in discussion boards
• Use constructive criticism and feedback
Be passionate and don’t be afraid to share!!

45. Examples Between Students:
• Ice Breakers
• Most interesting/Most surprising
• Weekly discussion board questions
• Reflections on peer work
• Surveys – share overall class results

46. •Reaffirm respectful communication
• Use lots of “please” and “thank you”
• Kill ‘em with kindness
• Encourage I-messages
•Answer questions first, then do a “food for
thought” or “please re-read this and see if it could
be perceived in a way…”
• Promotes class integrity, respect, and win-win
communication.

47. I’m guessing it’s not just one thing I do that
accounts for the high retention rate, which
is why I gave you 12 tips and talked about
the be attitudes/be verbs.
I hope you were able to pick up a few “gems”
you can use or promote on your campus.

48. Thanks and Good Luck!

49. Just a few examples:
 Tag Galaxy
 http://taggalaxy.de/
 Playlist.com
 OSN Decade Example : http://www.playlist.com/playlist/18980613643
 Interpersonal Love Types Example : http://www.playlist.com/playlist/18594984971
 CollageMaker
 http://tinyurl.com/473cmua
 Windows and Mirrors Theory
 Theory explanation: http://tinyurl.com/mynzms6
 Learning Object: http://tinyurl.com/47cb42g
 Music Videos
 http://tinyurl.com/4anyyb6
 http://tinyurl.com/4jc5r9c blog


50. Other Resources I like to use
 “In Plain English” YouTube Series
 Flickr
 FreeRice.org
 Glogsteredu