If you’re integrated in a course:

• Consider posting a brief video introduction about yourself to connect with students
• Familiarize yourself with the course timeline and major assignments
• Depending on where you’re at in the course, ask yourself: “What information might be most relevant for students?”
• Plan a targeted, frequent, personalized and proactive student-centred outreach that is reactive to the course environment and assignments
• Rely on the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework principle of multiple means of representation, and include information in a variety of accessible mediums (e.g., short video, images, etc.)
• As appropriate, refer to other integrated specialists and services

If you’re integrated in an online learning community:

• Consider connecting with the facilitator to discuss how to best connect with students
• Share information via Canvas announcements

For posting/sharing support content (which will vary from course-to-course, consider:

• Presenting information in a variety of mediums (text, visual, video, audio, etc.)
• Posting short, bullet-list information as opposed to long, text-heavy paragraphs
• Getting specific about how a shared resource/strategy will benefit learners

For engaging with students and instructors, consider:

• Striving for consistent presence across different course sections
• Focusing on building long-lasting relationships and creating rapport with both students and instructors
• Familiarizing yourself with all the support services available on campus so you can refer students to appropriate services. You can always tell a student: “I’m not the best person for this job, but here’s another support to consider…”

TIPS TO ENGAGE WITH STUDENTS 

• Strive for consistent presence across different course sections 
• Focus on building long-lasting relationships and creating rapport with both students and instructors 
• Familiarize yourself with all the support services available on campus so you can refer students to appropriate services 

• You can always tell a student: “I’m not the best person for this job, but here’s another support to consider…”