Need Help?

Let Us Help You Find the Answer

When you need help, I know your frustration level rises. I'll do our best to use our experience to anticipate when and where you will need our help and provide opportunities for getting rapid feedback in the course, but here is a handy reminder of where you can go to get the help you need.

Do you have a personal question or emergency? Contact me directly.

If you have a time-sensitive, personal question, contact me directly by clicking on your Canvas Inbox. From the Canvas Navigation Pane, click on "Inbox" to access your Canvas conversations. Or, simply click on the "Help" icon. A dialogue box with a series of help options will open. Contacting your instructor is the top choice. I'll get back to you within 24 hours during the work week.

Do you have a course question? Post to the Q&A discussion.

If you have a time-sensitive question about the course--especially a question your peers might be pondering, as well--please post it to the Q&A discussion. I will respond within 24 hours during the week, and, even better, like crowdsourcing, a peer may jump in and answer your question.

Do you have a technology question? Check the module resources.

In this course, and in your day-to-day teaching in a virtual classroom, you are going to be asked to work with technology, and, well, technology doesn't always work the way we think it should! To stay sane, and keep your friends, family, and colleagues sane, you will need to develop a balanced approach to technology frustration. Balanced. Here is the two-pronged approach to balancing technical woes:

Have grit. Google it, watch YouTube videos, use the support resources for the tool you're using, and get to know your Canvas Guides (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Learning how to find and use tech resources will save you so much time and frustration.
Ask for help. Don't try so hard to figure it out yourself that you end up frustrated.

Virtual Meetings in Zoom

Sometimes, you just need the human touch. Whether you need to show us what you're working on, or just need the interactive component of dialogue, the Zoom offers an opportunity to meet synchronously, share our desktops, and engage in dialogue.

Contact me to set up a meeting time, and chat away! Just send me a message from your Canvas Inbox (click the link in the navigation bar to the left). Include a description of the help you need and a few times you are available.

Be Proactive

I have a lot of terrific tools for supporting instructor-student interaction, but there are some important steps you can take to keep the communication lines open and healthy.

Set your notifications: Canvas allows you to customize when and where you receive announcements and other messages sent to you from the facilitators. Be sure you set your notifications so that you have timely updates from the course.
Read the announcements: Announcements contain important information about the course, but they also have content tailored to the unit, and often to the needs of this particular cohort. Take the announcements seriously--they really help!
Remember the human: The golden rule of communication is to remember that we are all human. Your peers will make mistakes, the facilitators will make mistakes, and you will make a mistake. Follow the Core Rules of Netiquette to ensure you are contributing to a communication climate that is respectful and supportive of learning.

Be sure to review all 4 tabs before clicking Next!