Communicate 2.1.2 – Communication Guidelines Quest

An individual’s communication plan needs to ensure that the all stakeholders are aware of all aspects of the online community.

Welcome letter:

I adapted the welcome letter from one that I found at Pasadena City College. The template gives permission to copy and paste and edit as needed.

Dear Students,

Greetings and welcome to the 20XX Fall Session of Course X! My name is Kristin Siembieda, I’ve been an instructor at XXX for the past 2 years and I’m excited to be leading you in an online discovery of the fundamentals of X.

ABOUT THIS COURSE

This course will be conducted online with one face-to-face video chats.

This is a 1 credit semester-long course in which you should expect to spend about 3 hours per week on coursework and projects. We’ll be using the textbook, Understanding X, 10th edition, 2011 by John Doe.

We will cover the following topics during the semester:

· What is X?

· The basics of X

· Details of X

· Applying X

ACCESSING THIS COURSE

For the online portion of the course, we will use the XXX Learning Management System. You can log in to the system here _________________. There is also a link on the page to 24/7 tech support if you are having any problems with the system. Your username is your Institution ID Number (IIN) which is the last 8 digits on your ID card. If you are having trouble with your username, contact the Information Technology Services HelpDesk for assistance.

GETTING STARTED

Once you’ve entered the class, check out the WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENT on the homepage, which will give you more information about our course Check-in requirement. You should check in no later than Wednesday, August XX 11:59 PM EST. You’ll find more detailed information about the course itself in the SYLLABUS link on the main menu.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES/LINKS

Online courses are required to meet ADA accessibility guidelines. This means that all aspects of the online learning experience are accessible. Please let me know if you have adaptive software and hardware to assist you with taking this course or if you have any specific needs I should be aware of. The PCC Disabled Students Programs and Services Department (RM D209) is available to assist you during this course. Youcan also email ________________ or call ______________ for assistance.

If you’ve never taken an online course before and want to know more about what skills you need to be a successful student online, check out the Distance Education website where there is lot of helpful information to get you started with online learning.

CONTACT

If you have any general questions about this class, you can contact me through

CONVERSATIONS. I will respond to you within 24 hours of receipt of your message. If you are having problems getting into your course, please contact me at ________________ or by phone at________

I look forward to meeting all of you! Welcome again!

Kristin Siembieda

Personal notes versus mass communication to stakeholders (appropriate times)

Mass communication will need to be sent regularly with updates and reminders. One of the technology tools is great for this. I have noticed that some of the LMS have these built in to the platform.  Personal notes need to be sent on assignments, to give encourage, or to problem solve issues with students.

Stakeholders

I like to include a community connection to learning. I would set up these stakeholders beforehand for possible video chats or podcasts. I would communicate through mass communication to students and parents to get permission when needed and to inform of dates. Additionally, I include parents on all mass emails and personal communications so that we are working as a team to ensure success.

School Policies regarding Communication

My current school has a policy to return emails within 24 hours of opening them. Schools have policies to make sure communication is clear and legal. Obliviously, you need to be careful of breach of confidentiality and document communication to ensure that you have effectively communicated with all stakeholders. I archive all old messages. This helps me if I need to revisit any communications. In addition, I cc all administrative team members on student concerns.

Tools available for effective Communication

It is nice that there are so many technology tools available for communication. I have experimented with some programs that are very helpful.

Seesaw: http://web.seesaw.me/ This programs allows students to create an online portfolio of work. Teachers can reflect on work and send comments and grades to parents and students. Remind 101 and Dial My Calls offer mass communication options. Another mass communication option is Bloomz https://www.bloomz.net/ I have used Bloomz for conference signups. I particularlyu like the two way messaging feature.

Online & Hybrid Course Welcome Letter Example. ONLINE & HYBRID COURSE WELCOME LETTER EXAMPLE (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 28 June 2016.