Effective Communication

Effective Communication Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Communicating Online Communicating with parents and students online requires some special considerations. Communication in response to questions and problems requires the “short & sweet” approach. Communication as a means of updating students & parents can use a variety of strategies. Let’s take a look at the differences in communication strategies. Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Responding to Questions or Problems Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Communication Don’ts • Don’t… • Debate the issue. • Give your opinion. • Overload with information. • Be defensive. Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Communication DOs • Do… • Answer the question. • Keep it short and sweet. • Stick to the facts. Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Example Emails Take a look at the following emails. What kind of response should these receive? Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Example Email #1 We need your help please. We are having a lot of confusion about what has been done and what has not. On our end we seem to think that everything is up to date as of yesterday. You said that ________ is still missing a quiz. Please tell us exactly what quiz that is again and exactly when was it due. The quiz that she attempted to take shows that it is not due until today. When she was trying to take that one again it would not allow her to do so. It said too much time had passed. She can't even go to the first question without the pop up showing. I called technical support. I spoke with a representative named ______. She went into the system and checked everything. She said it needed to be reset. But that it needed to be done by you. Can you please help with that. If you don't mind I really need to speak with you about these and other matters that may come up by phone. I am not able normally able to be by the computer during the day and in general find it much better for me to correspond by phone. Too much time passes between emails and we only have a limited amount of time to get everything done daily. I hope I don't sound ugly, I don't mean to at all. We have just had trouble with this system since the day we registered. There were some glitches in the system and they seem to happen every time we needed to get everything finalized. I can be reached at home _____ or cell ____anytime. I don't want ______to keep getting points taken off for not finishing her work. Did I mention that on her daily work it says that the Writing Process review quiz is only due today. So which quiz is it that she has had points taken off for, for not doing? Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Example Email #1 • Points to answer in this email: • Missing work • Quiz issue • Technical support • Support for using D2L Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Example Email #2 Message: Please send me ___________’s grade to date. Thank you. _______________Parent Name Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Example Email #2 • Points to address in this email: • Grades cannot be given via email • Parent portal directions • Call to discuss grades by phone Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Communication Policies Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Communication Policies • Make welcome calls & send emails as new students appear in registration. • Send bi-weekly (Fall & Spring) course updates to parents & students (Weekly in Summer). • Be sure to BCC courseupdates on course update emails Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Communication Policies • Many parents and students ask for grades in emails. • Here are some points to remember: • Do not put personal information in emails. (FERPA) • Do not put actual grades in emails. • Be sure to BCC emails with multiple outside addresses (for course updates, etc.) Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Communication Logs • Remember the Communication Logs are a matter of public record. • Parents could ask to see what has been documented. • Stick to the facts and avoid opinions in the logs, and in emails. • If it is not meant to be seen, don’t put it in writing. Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Reaching Students & Parents Creatively Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Reaching Students & Parents Creatively Responding to student & parent questions requires the short & sweet method. However, it is necessary to update students & parents often, and share new information. Here are some ideas to spice up frequent communication: ~ Weekly or monthly newsletters (can be used to update parents & students with new policies, due dates, etc.) ~ Creative announcements on course homepages ~ Use DialMyCalls to send out reminders & updates Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Reaching Parents & Students Creatively • Course updates & newsletters… • Course updates can be boring and offer little information, or they can be a source of news for students & parents. • Newsletters are a great way to update a large number of parents & students in a concise, yet intriguing manner. Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Sample Course Update Email • Hello Students & Parents, • Grades for your course have been updated. Your current grade reflects the latest grade after all work has been graded. Please remember the GAVS Summer late work policy: • Work turned in 1 day late receives a 25% deduction.Work turned in 2 days late receives a 50% deduction.Work turned in after 2 days will not be graded and will earn a 0. • Remember that summer session work is due daily. Please contact me if you have trouble with an assignment or quiz. • Some points to remember, * Assignments that have "submit" in the directions should go to the dropbox (this will also be indicated on the content page where the assignment is located). You must submit (attach) the file here. • * Assignments indicating to "participate in a discussion" will be completed in the discussion board. • * When taking a quiz, be prepared to complete the quiz in one sitting. Students may not begin a quiz, exit, and return later. It will not let you reenter the quiz after exiting. • * Grades and feedback can be viewed in the "Grades" area, as well as in the feedback bubble in the dropbox area. • Please watch the video below for some general course reminders. Have a great week!! • Mrs. Gardner's Weekly Reminders Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Sample Course Newsletter Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Creative Homepages & Emails Some resources for creative communication on the course homepage include: ~ Animoto ~ Xtranormal ~ Go Animate ~ Voki ~ Jing ~ Glogster ~ Wordle Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

DialMyCalls • DialMyCalls is an automated calling system that allows teachers to create a call list, recording, and scheduled call. Here are some ways DialMyCalls could be used: • Reminders to take final exams • Acknowledgement of a job well done • Encouragement to keep working, check feedback, etc. Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Wrapping Up Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Questions & Thoughts? For more resources and examples, take a look the following website. http://effectiveonlinecommunication.yolasite.com/ Classic Connections: Innovative Methods for Making Education Work

Effective Communication