The document reports on a pilot project where instructors at MCC were asked to send progress reports to students at least 3 times during the semester to prompt communication. Surveys found that students who received messages found them helpful and most took action to improve their grades or seek extra support. The pilot was successful and the college plans to expand training to encourage more instructors to participate in early progress reporting.
2. Summary of Project
• Spring 2012 classes
• Total of 521 students, 13 instructors, 28 sections
• Instructors were asked to send progress notices to every
student in their section at least 3 times
• Suggested times were 2nd week, 4th week and midterm.
• Reminders were sent to instructors for these times.
• Instructors were provided training
• Face-to-face sessions on several campuses
• Self-paced tutorial online
3. Analysis of Pilot
• Surveys sent to students—106 (20%) completed the
survey
• Feedback requested from instructors
4. Was getting an email from your instructor an effective way for you
to receive information on your progress in the class?
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes 84.0% 89
No 16.0% 17
5. Survey Results
• Did getting an email prompt you to communicate with your
instructor? 73.3 % said yes
• Was the communication with your instructor effective for
you? 93.3% said yes
• If your grade needed improvement, were you able to
make changes to improve your grade? 65.3% said yes
• Would you recommend instructors provide grade
feedback in other classes at MCC? 92.1% said yes
6. If the message you received directed you to use support services
such as the learning center, library, academic advisors,
counselors, etc., did you use these services?
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes 32.4% 33
No 13.7% 14
N/A 53.9% 55
7. Which services did you use as a result of the email from your
instructor?
Response Response
Percent Count
Tutoring, Learning Resources or Academic
36.7% 11
Resource Center
Library 56.7% 17
Academic Advising 13.3% 4
Counseling 0.0% 0
Financial Aid 3.3% 1
Access Office 6.7% 2
Testing Center 3.3% 1
Other (please specify)
13.3% 4
Show Responses
Other: Tech Line, Online Research, Instructor, SmarThinking
8. Faculty Response
• It is easy to use and the flexibility makes it fit the variety of
instructor styles.
• Still some uncertainty about why we would send
notifications to students who are doing well
• Some push-back or dread about being “required” to do
this.
• Some instructors who already send messages regularly
appreciated learning about the Bb tools that make this
process easier.
9. Faculty Comments
• I have sent course progress notifications weekly (8 week
sessions) and bi-weekly (16 week sessions). As I have
stated previously, I have found the new system incredibly
beneficial.
• I have been trying to send out the updating emails that
distance ed. recommends and the feedback has been
positive.
• I just wanted to let you know I have sent out messages in
my courses, and the students are loving the feedback! I
am really pleased this was implemented.
10. Faculty Comments continued
• About the notifications...so far this semester I haven't sent
any because students have either just self-dropped
without notification to me or I have contacted through
phone calls or emails. I don't have anyone with problems
at this point, but I tend to just call students that I'm really
worried about.
• I do what you all suggested and send messages out
through the Early Warning System. I run it every
Wednesday at noon and send a message to all students
below a 70%. It has worked well, and some students have
turned in late work as a result.
11. Increased Communications
To: Katherine.Melles
Subject: Re: 1121_PV_8W2_HUMN_140_20100: Humn 140
Wow. Thank you. I must say this is the first time I have received
an email like this since I started school. Your thoughtfulness is
greatly appreciated. :)
On Sat, Apr 7, 2012 at 1:23 PM, Katherine R Melles wrote:
You are doing well in this course. Please continue your efforts, and
if you have questions, don't hesitate to contact me. My office is
located in ST 307 on the Penn Valley campus, and my office hours
are Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00-11:00.
Keep up the good work!
12. College 100 Plans
• All College 100 course sites in Blackboard have been set
up with rules the Early Warning System and color coding
in the GradeCenter.
• Instruction on how to send progress notifications is
included in the College 100 instructor training
• Instructors will be expected to use the system to notify
students of their progress at least 3 times by midterm.
13. KC Online
• KC Online instructors are expected to send out progress
notifications at least 3 times during the course.
• Included in the faculty guide:
Student progress reports--required
• As part of KC Online, you will be expected to notify each student in your
class of his or her progress in the course at least 3 times prior to
midterm. The expected dates correspond roughly with the times that
you should be submitting an attendance roster. For summer, this would
be after the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks.
• There is training on the various methods of contacting your students in
Blackboard, or you can access it here: Early Reporting Lesson
• Your messages should contain the following information:
• The class and instructor
• Status of their performance compared to the course expectations
• What they can do to improve their performance
• Your contact information
14. Campus Roll Out Plans So Far
• Maple Woods
• Offering training July 2012 for interested faculty
• Will be presenting a faculty panel discussion for in-service in
August
• Roll-out for Fall, 2012
• Penn Valley First Time/First Year
• Advisory group plans to use this process with their First Time/First
Year students.
• Training session May, 2012.
• Instructors of these students will participate
• Longview
• Presentation at In-service
• Training will be provided through TLC in September
15. Recommendations from Pilot
MESSAGES:
1. Emphasize sending notifications to ALL students, not
just those at risk
2. Include specific grade information for students
3. Include resources and services students can use to
improve their performance.
16. Next Steps
• Increase training options to more faculty
• Have received requests from individual faculty and small faculty
groups
• Make the online training more evident
• Develop training for use with MetroSoft email utility rather than Bb
• Offer training on campuses
• Work with Campus leadership groups to facilitate rollout
plans specific to each campus
17. Strengths of Early Reporting
• Faculty initiate communication with students.
• Faculty decide what works for their own classes.
• Increased faculty-student communication
• Increased student satisfaction and connection to MCC
• Can be used with either Blackboard or MetroSoft to
facilitate email messages
