Teaching Tip: First-contact assignments can jump-start semester

August 19, 2016

Marissa Carl

Incorporating an assignment for online students to complete within a few days of the beginning of the semester lets you know the student has accessed your course site, has had the opportunity to view the course syllabus and is ready for the semester. Make sure the assignment is low-stakes in that it can be completed quickly without a lot of student preparation. One idea is asking students to post an introduction to the discussion board following an example you provide.

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— Teaching Tip by Heidi Olson, the learning design coordinator for UAF eLearning, a Google for Education certified trainer and an adjunct instructor with more than 25 years of experience in higher education.