4.3 - Informing and Preparing Students for DE Classes

  • Reading time: 6 min.
  • Video time: 0

Preparing DE Students Before Class Begins

Students can be anxious about where and how they should first access their DE classes, and clear communication from faculty is very important.  Here are some tips/suggestions on helping students start strong in your DE classes...

  • Please remember, regarding student communication about how to get started in DE classes:
      • In terms of faculty contracts, instructional work begins on the first day of the semester. Communicating with students prior to the first day cannot be an expectation - it is a choice a faculty member makes independently.
      • Students add and drop up to and well beyond the first day of class. “Getting started” communications likely need to be repeated and available to students for review within the class.
      • Canvas Inbox messages can only be sent to a class once the course is published. Additionally, communicating through Canvas Announcements does not guarantee that students will receive messages via email. They can independently adjust their Canvas notification settings. It’s a good idea for initial class emails to students to be sent via PeopleSoft. Advising students about how to set their Canvas notification settings Links to an external site. is also a good idea.
  • With the above in mind, here are some ideas for ensuring that students are able to successfully access and get started in DE classes. Students want to know:
      • where they should access the class, 
      • when they should access it and get started, and 
      • how to navigate the class, and 
      • what they should do in order to start strong.
  • Ideas for how you might provide students with this information:
      • Send a message to your students through PeopleSoft before or on the first day of the semester
      • Create an Announcement in your Canvas class that is released the morning of the first day of the semester 
      • Create a video introducing yourself, your class, and your expectations. Embed it within your class, and also provide it in communications described above.
      • Ensure your class is available (published) in Canvas on (or before) the first day of the semester. At the discretion of faculty, classes may be opened to students before the (typical) Canvas “term start” dates. Once these dates arrive, publishing your class Links to an external site. means that enrolled students will be able to access it. 

As mentioned above, many faculty like to send a welcome email to students before the semester begins, including details about the class. If you do this, it's best to send at least one email from PeopleSoft rather than from Canvas, for two reasons:

  1. If you haven't yet published your Canvas class, you can't send email Announcements from it; 
  2. If students haven't adjusted their Canvas notification settings, they may not immediately receive your message.

Further Preparing DE Students When Class Begins

Once your class begins, as mentioned previously, many faculty require completion of an activity such as an introductory discussion board or a syllabus quiz within the first few days of class, in order to identify students who are no-shows. Those students may need assistance, or they may need to be dropped if they have no intention of completing the class.

Most DE classes incorporate some orientation to the class and to the DE environment. Sharing a welcome video that includes a walkthrough of how to navigate the class can be an excellent support. 

Many faculty like to incorporate Canvas support resources and/or encourage students to attend a student success workshop related to Canvas and online learning. Some possibilities include:

Ensuring DE Students are Aware of College Support Services

It is required that LATTC faculty teaching online "Help students in a DE course section to be aware of LATTC College support services and resources, especially those available online."

A simple yet important way to do this is to ensure students are aware of the available Student Services Links to an external site..  These include the library, online tutoring, computer lab staff, student help desk, counseling, Career Center, Student Health Services, CARE team, and more.

Providing specific direction and encouragement to students to utilize these services can make a big difference. For instance, faculty may include a link to online tutoring services within assignment instructions when they know that some of their students may benefit from that kind of support.

You Aren't Tech Support ... but you should know where to send students who need it!

It's smart for both you and your students if you emphasize the tech support options available to students in your syllabus and in your introductory materials you share with students.

Tech Help button Reinforce for students the ease of receiving help with Canvas simply by clicking the Tech Help button near the bottom of the Canvas global navigation menu. Support includes both Canvas's 24/7 technical support hotline and LATTC's Student Help Desk, along with links to Canvas student guides.

  • Students who need a password reset must contact IT: 
    • Students must send an email to PWRESET@LATTC.EDU from the personal email account we have on file. 
      • They should include the following information in their email: First Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, Phone number, and Attach a government-issued photo ID (State ID, Passport) 
      • Someone will respond to their request within 48 hours
  • Faculty who need a password reset: email support@laccd.freshdesk.com or call 213-763-1688 

It's also important for you to know about the technology options LATTC makes available to students if their technology is insufficient for success.

LATTC has computer labs where students are always welcome to access Canvas and work on any of their classes. Helpful staff in the labs can also assist students with any issues they encounter in using Canvas and navigating their classes. The main computer lab is in the library Links to an external site., though many Pathways also have their own labs. Check with your department chair if you need more information.

Finally, the LATTC College library has laptop computers available for checkout for an entire semester if needed. Share this with students in your syllabus and/or within a page of your online class to help them take advantage of this opportunity if their technology is not up to the task.