This article is a part of Instructional Technology's Planning Your Go Online (GO) Kit series. Explore communication, active learning, and assessment strategies in an online environment to keep your course on track in the event of campus closure. View our in-depth webinar recording from March 11.
Communicating with students during an academic disruption begins with a clear strategy. Follow these steps to quickly get started during an emergency:
Download the student class roster and email addresses from Blackboard Original or from PeopleSoft.
Send students an email, or Blackboard announcement, as soon as possible to let them know how you will be communicating (email, phone, text, Bb announcements).
Tell students your response time to emails or messages (i.e., within 24 hours).
Inform students about how they will submit assignments (email, Blackboard assignments).
Select one communication tool that supports either synchronous (real-time, online interactions) or asynchronous (does not occur at the same time) engagement.
Synchronous tools include Blackboard Collaborate, Webex, or Google Hangouts.
Asynchronous tools include Blackboard discussion forums, Ultra messages, and VoiceThread.