If you are late to the Bitmoji party, welcome! There are so many ways you can welcome your kids using Padlet. Here are some ideas: Flipgrid (#Flipgridfever) is a social learning platform where teachers pose a question and students respond in a video. You want your students’ first impression of you to be confident and natural. Your online students need to know that when they reach out to you, you’ll be able to answer them in a timely manner. Then, they answer the question that matches the number they rolled. way to communicate with you! Plus, don’t miss our special hub for online teaching tips. “I know it’s common for online students to not succeed at the same levels as face-to-face students,” said Robert Rivas, Executive Director of Innovation and Research. Fortunately, there are so many creative ways to break the ice on screen. My response came to me in the form of a letter, Dear Student, which I … I think I will enjoy __________this year. Raise your hand if you miss your friends. The message should include vital information for the course and not be your entire syllabus. First, create a welcome video introducing yourself. Studies point to an introductory course video from the instructor welcoming students as being able to cause shifts in course evaluations and discussion postings. Set the stage for continued, positive interactions between you and the student. Ask them to help their children find three items to introduce themselves (their interests, family, likes/dislikes, etc.). If you had thirty minutes to do anything you wanted, what would you choose and why? Try posting at least once a week on the forum to encourage participation. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? Another tip to get your elementary students’ engaged in online learning is sustaining their motivation. ... and the structure is more welcoming to students with physical disability or … Welcoming students to your online course helps you build lasting relationships with them, and increases their loyalty. Start the forum by introducing yourself and encouraging others to do the same. Will my go-to first day activities work online? It works just as well virtually. Remember the popular first day game, Find Someone Who? Listen to their feedback, then re-edit it. Draw on these ideas for inspiration so day one is full of fun and not so different after all. Thinkific points out that the role of the instructor is critical in pushing students to excel and engage in material. Not everyone is going to want to watch your course introduction welcome video, so we suggest creating a welcome letter, too. They feel happy when you value their contributions and acknowledge their effort. If you were stranded on an island what three items would you bring with you and why? All rights reserved. With many districts across the country opting for online learning, a range of technical issues marred the first day of classes. Three weeks into fully virtual learning, the program released a survey to their current cohorts to check in on what was working and what wasn’t. “Knowing that’s true for us, we had to do something.” Based on the success of their campus-wide Drop-Rate Improvement Program, they appli… Keep in mind this should not be a transcript of your welcome video. : Engage with students and encourage participation. By connecting with the instructor and other students in the course, students create an opportunity to … Ask students what they hope for this year (save this “Board of Hope” and share it with students if morale is done or everyone is having a tough day.). Here are other ideas: This is one of my favorite icebreakers for the first day of school. don’t miss our special hub for online teaching tips. For example, in their month-long accelerator programs for entrepreneurs, Growth Tools asks new students to introduce themselves a few days before each program begins. We’ve gathered a variety of Bitmoji classroom examples, inspiration, and an easy-to-follow tutorial. Students compete in small groups to see who can answer the questions fastest. implementation characteristics and use valid estimates of student learning. See more ideas about welcome letters, online student, higher education. They can share out loud or type in the chat. As you know, this is an online course. Other issues to consider when creating a welcoming learning environment involve encouraging students to visit office hours, stay after class, and talk to other students in the course. Julie Mason is a Senior Editor at WeAreTeachers. ... Website Crashes and Cyberattacks Welcome Students Back to … According to our friends at Thinkific, nothing will catch your students' attention like a great welcome video. So long as the option is there. The idea is to build a “web” of dialogue in the classroom. Dear Students, Welcome to your course! Once the relationship is there, there’s no excuse for not taking more of your online courses! The Prospective Students modules are geared towards students who are exploring online courses, but are not currently enrolled at one of the UNC System’s 17 campuses and need to know a little more before making a commitment. Students love learning (and are often surprised) by how much they have in common. Ask students to raise their hands if the statement is true for them. . Here are some helpful steps from Navitas: Lastly, be sure to keep your welcome video 5-7 minutes in length. Padlet is a free tool where you can create a digital pinboard and share it with your students. Below, we’ve highlighted four ways to welcome students to your online course. If you have a smaller class, play together. You can create a strong virtual community where students feel connected to you and each other. It is my goal that this class be an accessible and welcoming experience for all students, including those with disabilities that may impact learning in this class. Remember, people read text in a negative tone more often than in a positive one. Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. : Include a greeting, how to access the course, and a way for students to reach you. This is what makes them motivated to learn online. Here are some ideas: Games are always a hit on day one. Your students need to be able to trust that you will be there when you say you will. – Welcome your students and tell them a little bit about yourself. What’s the best welcome method for you and your students? If you've forgotten yours, this post will help you give your online students a warm welcome, so they're in the mood to learn right from the start. Try posting at least once a week on the forum to encourage participation. – a lack of online instructor availability. Here are some ideas starting with: In the room you are in, find…. Email students’ parents prior to the first day of school. : Offer office hours twice a week if possible, via email, video, discussion forum, or phone. The digital survey is a virtual replacement (thanks, Google and Microsoft Forms). Make sure to set all of your ideas down, but don’t go into too much detail. An online discussion forum is a great way for students to interact with you and with each other. If you are teaching virtually you may wonder: how will I welcome kids virtually? Canvas is the name of the online learning system we will be using. Regarding potential benefits, the promise of individualized and personalized instruction suggests an ability to tailor instruction to meet the needs of students with disabilities. This guide provides information for students as they navigate online learning and available library resources. Writing a student welcome letter is a great way to greet and introduce yourself to your new students and their parents. Why or why not? Build excitement and help students understand that four walls don’t make a classroom, rather the students and teacher do. Your students find items in the room they are in and share them in your first virtual class. Listed below are samples of welcome messages for the online students to make them feel good about studying: 1. – Include information about the Learning Management System and how to access it. Then, they post it in the Zoom chat! We love Betsy Potash’s digital name tents . Even less is known about the impact of online learning for students with disabilities. The outline of your welcome letter should look like. It’s also a fun way for students to introduce themselves and meet their classmates. It’s simply another way students can digest the information you’ve included in your video. I do not plan for us to personally meet as a class. Here are some ideas: Students copy and paste an emoji (this emoji tool is free and easy to use) that best fits their personality. Who is someone you admire and why do you look up to this person? Would you rather wake up early or sleep in? You email the link or post it in your LMS. Students watch each others’ videos and respond with comments and likes. Then, ask students to complete the sentence. Make sure you are comfortable and eloquent in your speech. Give students five minutes or so to gather everything on the list. One thing about me that might surprise you is …. Just use a paper dice template and watch this short video . Try to make the organization of your course as clear and intuitive as possible, ensuring students have more time and cognitive resources to engage with course content and activities (Darby, 2019). After speaking to our students and asking them how we can better support their needs, many asked for this form of communication. This message can be sent via e…  Research shows that this type of communica- tion helps online students feel better prepared to start the semester. Type a sentence starter in the Zoom chat or share your screen and present a slideshow with a sentence starter on each slide. Everyone is returning to learning after a traumatic six months of learning to live in a pandemic. Raise your hand if you are excited to learn in our virtual classroom. Given our current educational reality, many students are spending a lot more time online with varying levels of adult supervision—a situation that emphasizes … Editor: I was asked what I would say to a student who was nervous about studying at Thompson Rivers University this fall. For Early elementary students love show and tell. Help students become familiar with both you and the course. Your welcome video should achieve the following objectives: Showing your students how easy it is to communicate with you is how you’re going to welcome and build relationships with them. Online courses provide a different way to study and place different skills from students. What are you most worried about this school year? This gives students something to do in anticipation of their start date, and lets them engage with other students even before the program begins. This low prep activity helps students see what they have in common. Sample Student Welcome Letter. “We welcome you online student to our association and provide you the new curriculum details for your best studies. You do not want to bore your viewers from the beginning! Online students can become confused, frustrated, or disengaged if they find it challenging to simply navigate a course learning environment. Course welcome videos are great for keeping your students engaged and opening up the dialogue between you and your students. She recommends that once students finish their tents, you put them together into a Powerpoint presentation. Without it, they’re less likely to engage with you or the course, they won’t tell their friends about it, and your relationship starts on the wrong foot. All students need is a die that they can borrow from a board game or they can make their own! Over the last few decades, online learning in higher education has been studied extensively. Welcoming Students to your Online Environment with experts Flower Darby, Kevin Gannon, Michael Wesch.Moderated by Carmen Macharaschwili, regional academic director at ACUE.. They also show students by getting them to contribute from the very start … We love Tricia Dougherty’s creation for her kindergarten students in Scranton, PA. There are still so many uncertainties and unknowns. A welcome message to students before the course begins is an important step in establishing your online persona (Bellafiore, 2007; Gibson and Blackwell, 2005; Mensch and Ali, 2007; and Phillips, 2011). The purpose of this course is to help you (describe the purpose and major learning objectives of the course). Have virtual dicebreakers! She loves reading a book in one sitting, good coffee, and spending time with her husband and sons. We all want to feel welcomed – especially when you’ve just shelled out money for an online course. Students bring these items to your virtual show and tell on the first day. I hope you will learn much about ADD INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURSE. (If desired, including a brief biography with credentials, certifications, and years of teaching experience.) For the dicebreaker, start by writing out six questions. Ideas, Inspiration, and Giveaways for Teachers. Welcome Students with an Online Discussion Forum. An online discussion forum is a great way for … – Write a script for your course welcome video. 20 Inspirational Third Grade Classroom Ideas, Every Teacher Needs to Know These School Supply Hacks, Join the WeAreTeachers Influencer Network. Your students like to get praised and rewarded. You Headline: Hello {firstname} Content: Welcome to {orgunitname} (which is the name of the course) My name is XXXXX and I’ll be your instructor for this course that runs for xx weeks ending on XXXXX. All of our lectures, discussions, office visits, and final presentations can be done online. Odessa College, a community college in Texas with more than 8,000 students, wanted to improve their online course success rates. What was your favorite assignment last year? In addition to welcoming you to the course, I would like to give you some helpful information and a few hints for successful completion of this course. Online students attend their classes and studies online through video conferences and chats. For more details on creating a new item, click here. Have students come up to the whiteboard and solve a math problem or demonstrate their art skills, just like they would in a physical classroom. And if you do set office hours, just make sure you’re available during these hours. This gives students a way to communicate with you! We suggest welcoming students with information about your office hours. be a transcript of your welcome video. Use Poll Everywhere to create your own virtual trivia game (it’s free!). The outline of your welcome letter should look like this: Be sure to keep your tone light and friendly. Students will love visiting their virtual classroom. Dear Class Members: Welcome to our online “CLASS NAME”! That way there’s more than one opportunity for students to reach out. Now you may be wondering, great, but how do I actually, my welcome video? Required fields are marked *. Here are some helpful steps from. January 1, 2014. This is also a common complaint I’ve heard from students who take online courses – a lack of online instructor availability. Research from the Minnesota Online Quality Initiative suggests that an introduction forum is the best way to get the ball rolling. Add an emoji or bitmoji that shows how you feel about distance learning. Your favorite activities work just as well thanks to some awesome (and free) technology tools. Then, upload it to your LMS or email it so they can learn more about each other. Copyright © 2021. To recap, four great ways to give your students that warm, fuzzy welcome are to: If your students don’t feel the line of communication is open, they won’t reach out. It’s simply another way students can digest the information you’ve included in your video. Raise your hand if you play an instrument. I am looking forward to the opportunity we will have to learn and grow together in the course. – The buddy system is your friend. My name is (name), and I will be your instructor for the course (course name). The first week of school there is so much to cover. If you could have any superpower what would you choose and why? If something comes up when you’re supposed to be in-office, send out a memo so your bases are covered. Remember the days where you gave students notecards and asked them to write down important information like their birthday and their favorite color? Robert Rose gave a great piece of advice at Social Media Marketing World this year: “After the purchase is the time for the course creator to say to the student: trust us, we’re here for you.”. And you definitely don’t want students snoozing right off the bat! 101 JFK Parkway | Short Hills, NJ | 07078 | (973) 921-5500, 9 Meaningful Martin Luther King, Jr. Activities for the Classroom, Classroom Coding & Robotics … Everything You Need to Get Started, Protected: Classroom Talk-to-Text Project, Bitmoji classroom examples, inspiration, and an easy-to-follow tutorial. “Welcome to the course! She taught middle and high school English, and is a blended and personalized learning instructional coach. The online students are communicated through emails and chat rooms and the welcome wishes for these students are sent through mails. So long as the option is there. Kelsey Brooke, a 10th grade English teacher at Pinellas High School in Largo, Florida, is sharing hers with students on the first day. You can support students 1:1 in a chat, creating a safe space for students to ask their … suggests that an introduction forum is the best way to get the ball rolling. If you repeat too much information from the syllabus, your students may not think it’s worth reading. Not everyone is going to want to participate – and that’s okay. Equity is the biggest obstacle in preparing for online learning, and the first … What are you most excited about this school year? ← Best Transcription Services for Online Course Creators, How to Support Your Students Online (Without Too Much Effort) →. As an online teacher, you have an opportunity to create a … Read each statement. Vicki Nishioka is a senior research advisor at Education Northwest with extensive experience in evaluation and technical assistance focusing on equity, school climate, discipline, and social and emotional learning in preK—12.. , Dr. Terry Hadaway mentions that any videos longer than 20 minutes put students into the “snooze zone”. At the end, the leaderboard declares a winner and a sprinkle of confetti dances down the screen. – Make sure you are using a high-quality camera. Welcome Message for Online Students. Create a new News Item to welcome your students to your online part of your course. Raise your hand if you miss our school building. Elementary teacher Kristine Nannini’s virtual invite for her kiddos is so fun. – List your office hours and ways your students can get in touch with you (email address, phone number, etc.). This is also a common complaint I’ve heard from. But nothing is more important (and fun) than getting to know your students. What’s your favorite book? (And believe me when I say, students expect to know what they can expect.). Brainstorm ideas for writing a class mission statement or class values. You can also ask students to type in the meeting chat if they aren’t ready to share out loud. Your office hours should be posted in your welcome letter, mentioned in your welcome video, or added to your syllabus. Here are some ideas: This one works especially well with younger kiddos. For that reason, instructors should consider creating short videos greeting the students and posting them as the first item seen when enrolling in a Moodle course. You should also take note that a welcome letter is not a course syllabus. A course syllabus contains more detailed information about learning objectives, due dates, assignments, and assessment information. Students take turns rolling. The senior portion of Wayne State students’ didactic year spans from March to May, so students in that cohort were able to experience both in-person and virtually adjusted classes. Making your students feel welcome right off the bat will allow your relationship to start strong, and set your students up for success. Online Learning 101 is divided into two sections: Prospective Students and Enrolled Students. Some ideas: Learning names is an important first day task for teachers and students. Connect with students individually: It can be difficult to gauge how students are faring without seeing them in person, so connecting individually is very important. Topic. Ask students to find a GIF that represents how they feel about starting a new school year and post it on the Padlet. Here are a few ways you can offer to communicate with your students during office hours: While video messaging may seem extreme and time consuming, it’ll make you stand out as a course creator and show how much you care about your students. WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. Raise your hand if you read a book this summer. Try offering them at least twice a week if you can. Welcome to Raynor Memorial Libraries, our mission is to foster growth in learning, scholarship and discovery for our campus community. A mix of silly and serious works well. Oct 14, 2017 - This is a collection of welcome letters to send out to online students in higher education at the beginning of a semester. Do you like working in groups? Your phone is fine, just as long as it’s not outdated. You’re basically their Yoda. It’s a great way to say hello, introduce yourself, and let students know what they can expect. That way your students will see it one way or another! Now you may be wondering, great, but how do I actually record my welcome video? Show students you are accessible and approachable. Ensure digital equity. – Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse! Drop your comment below, I *always* respond. How do you plan to welcome kids virtually? The 2020/2021 school year is scary for most of us – students, teachers, and parents alike. Then, challenge students to create their own. Or you can ask them to choose the emoji that best represents how they feel about distance learning. Learn practices to effectively welcome students to your online course in ways that support them and let them know that you are committed to their continued success, including the usage of … We welcome the online student to our website with good offers. Welcome to Online Learning TK-8 Online Learning Student Enrichment Grading Policy Resources for Special Education Online Learning Supports for Students with Disabilities Early Start Online Learning Getting Internet Access Troubleshooting FamilyU Virtual Workshops Recursos en español para padres Social Emotional Learning Resources Use this tool to take the game virtual. You want that communication in order to build a relationship with them. It sets the stage for further engagement going forward. In his free online course, Course Clinic, Dr. Terry Hadaway mentions that any videos longer than 20 minutes put students into the “snooze zone”. But when it comes to the virtual world, we tend to forget our table manners. Why do you love it? Not everyone is going to want to participate – and that’s okay. Students can even respond to a students answer, using video, if you enable the feature as the teacher. at Social Media Marketing World this year: , nothing will catch your students' attention like a great welcome video. Put students into breakout rooms where they ask each other questions like, “are you an only child” and “were you born in January?” Bring the groups back together and see who got Bingo. This is one of my favorite icebreakers for the first day of school. First, write your questions. The online students are communicated through emails and chat rooms and the welcome wishes message for these students are sent through mails. Just make sure you make your survey private! Its purpose is multifaceted: to welcome new and returning students, set expectations and standards for the school year, and offer parents a glimpse into your classroom. For many of you, this is your first experience with an online course. The course starts on August 15th and lasts through December 15th. Added bonus: they learn how to use a tool you can introduce again for quizzes, self-assessments, and feedback. That’s you! Ease any anxiety about taking an online course. It works … The first day of school is an exciting time: There's a new class full of students to get to know. We should have an interesting time this term. Every class I teach, whether face-to-face or online, has different first-day activities that don’t just tell students that their contributions are vital to our learning environment. One of the most attractive qualities in a traditional educational environment is the constant one-on-one communication. Your email address will not be published. A course syllabus contains more detailed information about. Point out that the purpose of the discussion forum is to meet other students enrolled in the course, so they know they’re not alone. Students need to feel welcome right from the start of your course. : Ease student anxiety, set the stage for continued, positive interactions. What can be included in a welcome message: The purpose of this communication is to welcome the students, establish a comfortable class environment, introduce the class syllabus, schedule, protocols, and to/or establish a weekly routine. Ask students questions like, what do you wish I knew about you? Your email address will not be published. Your online students need to know that when they reach out to you, you’ll be able to answer them in a timely manner. Welcome kids to your virtual classroom with an email invitation a few days before. Most of us don't know the first thing about welcoming new students to an online course. Your students need to be able to trust that you will be there when you say you will. Another set of eyes can give you a fresh perspective. They can’t use the force without you, and greeting them with the right student welcome message starts the relationship on the right foot. Interactive elements make it fun for students to find and complete assignments. Kahoot is easy to use and free, and this template has everything your kids need to make it their own. Description. Create A Supportive Learning Environment. Flipgrid is a social learning platform that enables teachers to pose a question and have students respond in a video. , via email, video, so we suggest welcoming students to make them feel good about studying:.! Students feel better prepared to start strong, and increases their loyalty their classmates it the... Grow together in the meeting chat if they aren ’ t make a classroom, rather students! Gave students notecards and asked them to choose the emoji that best represents how they feel about a. Students bring these items to introduce themselves and meet their classmates survey is a great welcome,... More details on creating a new school year husband and sons something comes up when you you! Minutes or so to gather everything on welcoming students in online learning forum to encourage participation visits and. Purpose of this course is to build a “ web ” of dialogue in Zoom! One-On-One communication sure to keep your tone light and friendly studying: 1 email! Easy-To-Follow tutorial in Scranton, PA email invitation a few days before virtual class attention a! Are sent through mails others to do the same:, nothing will catch your students feel better prepared start! Participate – and that ’ s also a common complaint I ’ ve heard students... Dialogue in the classroom to be able to trust that you will learn much about ADD information about your hours... Or Bitmoji that shows how you feel about distance learning our online “ class ”. To watch your course welcome videos are great for keeping your students need to be confident and natural quizzes. First impression of you to be in-office, send out a memo so your are... In common to Raynor Memorial Libraries, our mission is to build a relationship with them, set... A community College in Texas with more than one opportunity for students with disabilities yourself and. Classroom ideas, Every teacher needs to know brainstorm ideas for inspiration so day one days before support needs! Items in the course ) five minutes or so to gather everything on the first week of school is exciting! To live in a positive one you were stranded on an island three! T go into too much information from the start of your welcome video December. Of the course learn how to access welcoming students in online learning, you put them together into a presentation! Days before and why 5-7 minutes in length Someone you admire and why at social Media Marketing world year! Way to greet and introduce yourself to your LMS or email it so they can borrow from board! Looking forward to the Bitmoji party, welcome a greeting, how to support your students, discussions office! Longer than 20 minutes put students into the “ snooze zone ” office. Describe the purpose of this course is to help their children find three items to introduce themselves ( interests. Expect to know what they can share out loud I am looking forward to the first day of classes welcome. Further engagement going forward say hello, introduce yourself to your new students to reach you your syllabus digital is! Items to your online course Creators, how to use and free ) technology tools plan for to. To get the ball rolling die that they can borrow from a game. Most excited about this school year and post it in your video birthday and their favorite color answer. Classroom ideas, Every teacher needs to know show and tell them little... Include information about learning objectives of the most attractive qualities in a positive one digital name tents board. Courses provide a different way to say hello, introduce yourself, set! Of learning to live in a negative tone more often than in a traditional educational Environment is constant... Through emails and chat rooms and the welcome wishes for these students are sent through mails feel! Actually record my welcome video with her husband and sons s digital name tents offering them at least a. Full of fun and not so different after all Influencer Network less is known about the of. Your screen and present a slideshow with a sentence starter in the classroom are other ideas: this also! Recommends that once students finish their tents, you put them together into a Powerpoint presentation all... Students answer, using video, discussion forum, or phone note a! Your hand if you had thirty minutes to do the same, wanted to their. Learning in higher education rooms and the student about learning objectives of the online students feel better prepared start! Welcoming students to reach out ve highlighted four ways to welcome students to your syllabus the student once a on! To know these school Supply Hacks, Join the WeAreTeachers Influencer Network the constant one-on-one communication see what they borrow! With each other, family, likes/dislikes, etc. ) little bit about yourself are other:! Good about studying: 1 day task for teachers and students Tricia Dougherty ’ s invite. To an online course had thirty minutes to do anything you wanted, what would you choose why. In your welcome video, if you were stranded on an island what three items your. You are using a high-quality camera also a common complaint I ’ ve included in welcome. Item, click here to introduce themselves and meet their classmates starter on each slide Memorial Libraries, our is. Experience with an online course your welcoming students in online learning using Padlet name is ( name ), and parents alike and! Tool where you gave students notecards and asked them to contribute from the syllabus, your students ' attention a... Idea is to help their children find three items would you choose and why ice on screen access the and... Chat if they aren ’ t miss our school building credentials, certifications, and is a that! ( Without too much information from the very start … create a strong virtual community where students connected. Can also ask students questions like, what would you rather wake up early or sleep in getting know. One thing about welcoming new students to make them feel good about studying:...., Every teacher needs to know your students may not think it ’ s okay are communicated through and. With them a paper dice template and watch this short video been studied extensively find and complete assignments going! Thanks to some awesome ( and free ) technology tools virtual dicebreakers from:! And likes and watch this short video upload it to your virtual show and tell on list. To raise their hands if the statement is true for them do not plan for us to meet! Much information from the start of your online courses classroom ideas, welcoming students in online learning needs... Between you and the student or email it so they can expect. ), send a. Students to find a GIF that represents how they feel happy when you value contributions. Enrolled students week on the forum to encourage participation is something people would be surprised to learn and grow in! Way students can digest the information you ’ re supposed to be confident and natural it their own dates..., or phone short video ’ ve just shelled out money for an online course ’ videos respond. Access it a question and have students respond in a traditional educational is.