Welcoming Students Before the Course Starts

  • Total Reading Time
  • 10 minutes
  • 43 seconds

Research shows that when you reach out to students within the first weeks of school, this engagement increases student retention and success in your course.

[INSTRUCTORS: It is recommended this initial message be sent via email (outside of the LMS) since not all students may have confirmed their Canvas email and so will not receive messages/announcements sent via Canvas.]

[Examples of effective practice to engage students]

Two weeks before course starts, go into course registration system to gather students' contact information registered in your course:

  • Insert a Welcome/Introductory Video into your course.  
  • Send introductory emails to students to let them know that their textbook is free, for example, or what to expect next in the course.
  • Send resources such as etext links, college maps, etc. 

Insert a Welcome/Introductory Video into your course.  

Example - Faculty Introduction Video

Please click on the Play Arrow Button below to begin watching the video. 

Faculty Introduction Links to an external site.Faculty Introduction Sample 

 

 

Send Introductory Emails to Students

Example - Short Introductory Email 

Welcome to [course name]. We are using the Canvas course management system for this course. Please see the [your school's Canvas help page] webpage, which provides instructions for logging in, finding your course, and confirming your email to receive Canvas notifications.

Your first due date for this course is [date/time]. I recommend that you log in to Canvas now to read the Syllabus and participate in the Check-in Discussion, which is in the Modules area of the course. The course navigation menu includes links to the Syllabus and to Modules. 

It's suggested to add a link to the phrase "log in to Canvas now" that will take students to your school's Canvas login page.

Example - Long Introductory Email 

[Example - Long Introductory Email

Below is an email that Dr. Illowsky sent to her Elementary Statistics students two weeks before the class actually started.  It included information the students could access on her public website the students had access via the LMS.] 

 

Hi, class,
Welcome to Math 10, XX term. I am your instructor. I truly look forward to our class and getting to know each of you. Please feel free to call me "Barbara." If you are uncomfortable with that, then "Dr. Illowsky" is fine, too.
Please watch an introductory YouTube video that I made for you Links to an external site.. It contains lots of useful information.

I have posted LOTS of important information for you on my web site Links to an external site..

On the left column, click on "Math 10."

Please review the material. To get ready for the term, I suggest you download the Chapter Videos IF you plan to use a hard copy of the text. For everyone, I suggest you download the two videos on using the TI-83/84 calculator. You can find the link to the videos on my web site, inside the WebAssign system (starting 9/22) or directly at:

http://www.deanza.edu/itunesU  Links to an external site.(click "De Anza Open Content")

Also, PLEASE visit Online Student Tutorials Links to an external site. to learn if you are really ready for a distance learning course. If you prefer an instructor who lectures and has face-to-face interaction, there are still on-campus sections with room in them.

I want to make sure you have read the course note about the REQUIRED on-campus exams for this course. Yes, this is a distance learning class. However, we are required to have 50% of the course points be proctored, on-campus exams. There is a course note in the on-line schedule with the exam information.
I drop one of Exams 1, 2 or 3 and replace the score with your Final Exam score IF you are unable to take one of the exams (or receive a low score). If you cannot make two of the on-campus exams, then you need to take this course another time. If you have questions, please email me before school starts. I am often able to help. Once the term gets going, it is often too late to make exam accommodations.
Although we have no alternate testing facilities on campus, you may take the exam BEFORE our scheduled exam during another faculty member's class, if necessary. If you are unable to take the exams at De Anza (business trip, don't live locally, in the military, etc.), then you can arrange for testing at your local community college. If there is a fee, you will be responsible for paying it. It takes about 2 weeks to set that up, so please get in touch with me ASAP if you need a different exam location.
You will be able to access XXX and WebAssign starting Monday, 9/22, at noon.
You MUST log into XXX the first week of the course. Otherwise, I will think you do not want to be in the course and might drop you.
Statistics knowledge will truly serve you in the future. You WILL "use this stuff." I hope you enjoy the course as much as I enjoy teaching it.

Regards,
Dr. Barbara Illowsky