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

Communication with Students

Block Directors send regular communication out to students with input from Thread/Theme Directors as necessary. These communications help students orient themselves to learning goals and focus on the critical materials. Block Directors have regular required required communications including A block welcome, weekly highlights, exam prep emails, course correction emails, and the response to the student feedback form (see below for examples). Thread and Theme Directors can work with the block directors to have their content included in those regular communications.

• Block Welcome: About 1 week before the block, students are emailed 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:  

Thread/Theme Directors work with Block Directors to create and send the email communications as needed. 

Thread/Theme Admins none.

Meet with Students/Office Hours

Thread/Theme 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 with Thread/Theme content.

Responsibilities:  

Thread/Theme Directors conduct office hours as needed. 

Thread/Theme Admin assist in scheduling Zoom office hour sessions as needed.

WWAMI-Wide Content Review Sessions

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. Work with the Block Directors to arrange reviews for thread content.

Responsibilities:  

Thread/Theme 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 Thread/Theme admin during the Technology Coordination Meeting to make sure there is a zoom link and that the sessions will be recorded.

Thread/Theme Admins help schedule reviews.