Should we use Zoom, Skype, or Teams for video conferencing? All three are available to IVCC users. Zoom Pro licenses
allow users to have longer sessions and record to the cloud. Skype and Teams are
built in to our Microsoft products.
Several individuals from IVCC participated in the Illinois Community Colleges Online
(ILCCO) Growing Online Learning Conference. Check the conference website for recordings, coming soon.
There was feedback on revising the Retention Alert form to include an "other" field or provide some more flexibility. We will follow
up on this.
Do all you can to promote the use of email among students! They really are missing
out on important communication when they are simply not checking their IVCC email
accounts. Find email support information here.
Students may be on literacy/reading overload with all their online classes. Consider
this when crafting messages and making assignments. We welcome your suggestions and
tips on this at our next discussion on 3/3!
Kevin Hermes offered the following suggestions: Engagement is the responsibility of both faculty and students; Use announcements strategically, 4-6 times per week; Be present, don't let your course lie dormant for more than 2 days; Provide students with reminders; Remind students to check grading feedback; Consistently participate in discussion; Use strategic pronouns in class messaging, "Our course," "Your course," "We have an exam coming up"; Look for the intermittent students and reach out to them directly, they may be struggling the most; Hear feedback from the students to determine what help they need; Send the email letting a student know you've noticed and you want to help; Be personal and specific, you'll likely to get a response; You never really know who is struggling and why.
A few faculty indicated grades in their classes are going up! They attribute this
to being in contact with students, having students who are fully committed to learning
right now, more students becoming adjusted to the current conditions, more effort
from faculty and from students, and the availability of support services, such as
the Retention Alert program. They also reported fewer withdrawals from classes.
A "to do" list for follow up...
Patrice will do her best to follow up on these questions between now and the next
session.
What do our future semesters look like in terms of delivery modes? Are we keeping Virtual Class Meetings (VCM)? Will we have as many online classes?
Will we offer a new mode where students may be on campus OR online?
Can we install better cameras in classrooms to support synchronous online delivery from our classrooms?
Are we involved in addressing the challenges related to rural internet service (or lack thereof)?
Can we supplement the virtual graduation ceremony with recognition from faculty and staff; a virtual "banner" or some other media?
What about a yearbook?
Can we receive a list of graduates by program of study so program coordinators and others can reach out to them?
Can we announce new employees in the everyone email?
How do we stay current with knowing who is on the security team?
What is the status of the Part-Time Faculty Liaison Program?
Can we discuss EvaluationKIT (new tool for course evaluations) at the next meeting?
