During Opening Days this semester, a number of people gathered in Webex to share ideas about teaching online (an infographic from the day is included at the end of this email). Near the end of the session, we went around and shared tips that have made a big difference in their teaching.
Jim said something very simple. He said, “I respond to every single message whether it requires a response or not.” He elaborated by saying that even if the message from a student is a “thank you”, he still responds. Most of us respond to email from students religiously. Jim’s secret is to always send the last email. Always.
So I thought I’d adopt that this semester. In my classes, I have a few different streams of communication (Blackboard, email, and Discord) and at first this idea seemed overwhelming. But five weeks in, and I can say it’s one of the best things I have done to foster community in the class. The return on investment is huge. Replying (even across three different streams) is not hard or time consuming and the yield is palpable.
And while my evidence is only anecdotal, I do feel like I am more approachable. I’m certainly having more email conversations than in previous semesters (even COVID semesters). I like that the students probably feel like they are heard despite the temporal and geographical barriers. It models responsiveness (which I think is important for students to learn). And it gives me a clearer sense of completion – and small productivity wins feel good.
I asked Jim about this earlier in the week and he said that students say they feel more like they are having a conversation instead of an email volley. He posits that in a face to face conversation, there are usually parts that don’t require a verbal confirmation (facial expressions and body language can provide the necessary feedback) and these emails satiate that need.
Either way, I’m glad I’m doing it and I hope my students feel better connected.
