13068

13068

General Session - Conference Presentation and Interactive Activity Only (40 minutes, no formal paper)

Lisa Teitler, Kaplan University, Online; South University, Online, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, lteitler@bellsouth.net Erica Ellsworth, Kaplan University, Online; University of Phoenix, El Paso Learning Center, EL Paso, Texas, USA, eellsworth@kaplan.edu Teresa Kelly, Kaplan University, Brunswick, Georgia, USA, tkelly@kaplan.edu Sheryl Bone, Kaplan University, Online, Michigan, USA Sbone@kaplan.edu
 * Beyond Email: Harnessing Multimedia Tools to Effectively Communicate with Students **

Forging a connection between instructors and students presents continued challenges in all course modalities. When Wooten-Blanks (2012) used PowerPoint to share her story including her struggles as a student, grades in her courses went up by about 20%. She said “I realized that my story had impacted the students” (par.2). Sull (2012) stated “Today’s technology allows us to get closer to our students—and lets our personalities really shine through” (par. 9). This presentation examines several simple multi-media tools that educators can use to create engaging bios, announcements, and emails that add to rather than detract from the course content and outcomes. Presenters will demonstrate creating a multi¬-media engagement tool, starting with deciding which tool to use and addressing accessibility and privacy issues.

Finally, participants will receive a link to a WebMix featuring all the tools mentioned in the session and examples showing how they were used in the classroom.

Sull, E.C. (2012, March 8). Personality matters when teaching online. Faculty Focus. Retrieved from http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/personality-matters-when-teaching-online/

Wootten-Blanks, L. (2012, March 7). Building rapport with students by sharing a piece of yourself. Faculty Focus, Retrieved from http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/building-rapport-with-students-by-sharing-a-piece-of-yourself/

//Interactivity// A poll activity will be used asking about tools or one thing attendees would like to showcase to students about themselves.

All Audiences Web 2.0 tools, Outreach