Communicating with Students

Communicating with your students is important anytime. When there is a crisis or closure it becomes paramount.

Communicating with students virtually may pose challenges if you are unfamiliar with available technology options.  However, many faculty find that virtual communication allows for wider and more frequent communication beyond scheduled class times.

While Canvas is not the only way to communicate virtually, it is a streamlined and effective option.  Here are some common ways to use Canvas for communication in all course modalities.

Email, Feedback, Replies, & Announcements

Make sure your communications are clear and set expectations early in the course. Establish in week one where students will go to find course information if the college were to suddenly close. Ensure students have more than one way to contact you in the event of an emergency.

Communicating effectively with students can be a challenge when teaching at a distance. We may not realize how much we rely on non-verbal cues such as facial expression, tone, and body language to help us communicate in the seated classroom. This makes establishing and maintaining clear, concise, and personalized communication even more important in a virtual environment.