Utilizing Message Banks in Online Instruction
Rob Debelak, Associate Professor of Bible, Lee University
THIS TOOLKIT WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO
This toolkit promotes positive time management, reinforces active instructional presence, and fosters consistency of content in communications regularly used in online courses.
KEY OBJECTIVES
- Introduce an effective communication strategy fostering common experience across varied sections of the same online course
- Conserve course administration through a repository of message templates
- Provide regular electronic contact between leader and learner
DESCRIPTION
I began experimenting with this concept over a decade ago.
Three key features formed the rationale for developing and utilizing the templates:
- I wanted my students to succeed, and to do so,
- they needed current information on university policies, as well as
- awareness of how I would tailor expectations and standards in my course.
Next, the relatively static nature of standards required minimal revision; a working copy, or template, provided a record of communication, as well as a foundation for expediently communicating similar information each session.
Fresh phrasing, humor, personal touch, etc. keep the messages vibrant and relevant, further reinforcing that I, as the instructor, am present and interested in the student’s successful progress.
HOW TO IMPLEMENT THIS TOOLKIT
Step 1 – Instructor creates a folder in an email program or word processing directory. The folder is labeled by course code and section suffix (i.e. BIBL 101-DOL1). [Option: include semester, session, year, professor’s last name, etc. for ease of referencing most recent iteration; updates required each iteration of the course]. It is recommended one folder per course/section be used.
Step 2 – Create communications: policies, procedures, announcements, examples, etc. Subject/title line should identify course code and suffix, week or unit the communication is to be disseminated, and message title (i.e. BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 1 – Welcome Letter!) [These materials may develop gradually over a session, with the expansion of these resources occurring over several semesters]
Step 3 – Dispatch the communication. Be sure you, the instructor, are included in the distribution list
Step 4 – File the communication in the folder created in step 1. Message copies generated by email programs, LMS, or if unused and self-forwarded will file per the computer-generated date-time stamp.
Step 5 – Keep folder sorted with the oldest date-time stamped message at the top. This represents the next message/communication to be disseminated per your schedule.
Step 6 – Delete oldest message(s) in your folder after use. The newest copy of the message (step 4) will be filed for later use (step 5).
Step 7 – Revise and recycle. Each subsequent iteration of the course, be certain to update folder label, message titles, message content, etc. Send updated material, discarding old, outdated, unused materials.
REFLECTION
Conservation of effort seeks methods of working smarter, employing time-saving measures that would otherwise expend effort on unnecessary redundancy.
Creation, maintenance, and revision of course communications aims for regular, current, and consistent dissemination of pertinent information.
The process is initially heavy in the creation of pertinent policies, expectations, and the like. Once formed, however, revision is comparatively minimal. [See “Resources” below for a sample listing of communication templates I use each time a course is taught.]
RESOURCES
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 0 – Pre-Course Welcome & Preparation Tips
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 0 – Pre-Course Communication Expectations
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 0 – Pre-Course Announcement: Class Begins Tomorrow
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 1 – Day 1 Class Begins
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 1 – Success Tips
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 1 – Day 3 Follow Up On Non-participating Students
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 1 – Wishing You a Good Weekend
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 1 – Day 6 Announcement: Unit One Closing
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 2 – Day 1 Unit Two Begins
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 2 – Course Status (Non-participants Message #2)
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 2 – Weekend Message
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 2 – Unit Closing
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 3 – Unit Opening
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 3 – Tips
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 3 – Weekend Encouragement
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 3 – Clarification of Process
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 3 – Unit Closing
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 4 – Unit Opening
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 4 – Unit Closing
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 5 – Unit Opening
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 5 – Course Standing
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 5 – Unit Closing
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 6 – Unit Opening
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 6 – Tips Regarding the Paper #1
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 6 – Tips Regarding the Paper #2
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 6 – Unit Closing
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 6 – Course Status
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 7 – Unit Opening
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 7 – Preparing for Next Session
BIBL 101-DOL1: Week 7 – Course Conclusion
