It is important to keep in touch with students during the block to get a sense of how they are managing with the Block content. Non-teaching student responsibilities include required communications, meeting with student block partners, optional office hours, and optional content review sessions.

Communication with Students

Regular communication with students helps orient them to learning goals and focus on the critical materials. Required communications include:

• Block Welcome: About 1 week before the block, email students with a block roadmap, and what to expect. (example Welcome email)
• Weekly Highlights: During the block, send weekly emails highlighting what is covered that week. (example Weekly Highlights email)
• Exam Preparation: A few days prior to each exam send an email with what to expect as far as assessment. (example Exam Prep email)
• Corrections to Course Materials: As needed send email with corrections to mistakes in course content or lectures. (example Correction email)
• Response to to Student Feedback: After the block and completing the Lessons Learned Process send a response to the student feedback report including changes for the next iteration of the course.

Responsibilities:  

Block Directors create and send the email communications. 

Block Admins Copy the emails and post them in the “Course Announcements” section of Canvas.

Meet with Students/Office Hours

Block Directors and Site Leads, at their discretion, can set up office hours (virtual or in-person) to meet and support students struggling in the block. Block Directors also partner with Student Block Partners throughout the block to receive feedback and get a sense of how the class is doing with the content. 

Responsibilities:  

Block Directors conduct office hours as needed and meet with Student Block Partners. 

Block Admin assist in scheduling Zoom office hour sessions as needed. 

WWAMI-Wide Reviews

Though material review prior to exams is not required, students find them very useful. All reviews must be consistent in each region, so reviews either need to be conducted over Zoom at a time all regions can attend, or each region must agree to do site-led reviews from the same set of slides. Reviews are optional for students to attend. Reviews for thread content can be arranged with the Thread Directors. 

Responsibilities:  

Block Directors create or delegate the review content creation and delivery to other faculty or TAs and work with the Academic and Learning Technologies team (SOMALT) and the block admin during the Technology Coordination Meeting to make sure there is a zoom link and that the sessions will be recorded.

Block Admins help schedule reviews and ensure they are documented in the student calendaring system (Elentra).