Academic Innovation Blog

Falcon Online Communication Tools

Communication has many purposes, such as hope, humor and levity, sternness, and deceit.  Unless our intent is confusion, we should be clear and direct in our exchanges with our students.  

Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity. - Nat Turner

Analytics support what faculty already know about students opening and reading their email; the numbers are low. There are tools in Falcon Online to complement your email.

This blog focuses on three tools in Falcon Online that you can use to interact with your students:

• Announcements
• Intelligent Agents
• Email from the Classlist

You can apply the tools together to deliver multiple forms of contact.  

Announcements

Announcements are more than a means to reach the entire class. They are an excellent tool for communicating with a group of students or individuals, too. Announcements can be set up to target a unique population in the classroom.  

For example, your students just took your mid-term exam and you wish to acknowledge their achievement on the exam. You could create an Announcement that only releases to students that get a 90% or better. Conversely, you could invite your students to seek clarity and tell them of the tremendous support services available on campus and online. 

If students use Pulse, the app will notify them of a new announcement. If they do not use apps, they can set an email notification for new announcements in the Notifications area in Falcon Online. 

Intelligent Agents

You can send the same message to students in email format. After you have already created the Announcement, you can select the wording and place it into an Intelligent Agent that auto-generates an email based on the same conditions you set in the Announcement. For more on Intelligent Agents, please read Bill Harrison’s blog, Course Personalization Part III–Intelligent Use of Intelligent Agents.    

You increased your interaction by creating an Announcement and replicating the condition in an Intelligent Agent.  

​Classlist Email

Although we have Microsoft Outlook, I suggest using the email tool within Falcon Online, especially within a course, if that is your chosen format. You can locate your students, the email subject line pre-pends with the course identification, and Sent mail is available to revisit. 

Search for more communication ideas within our blogs since we have stellar resources expertly written by Daytona State College faculty and staff.  Please comment on our posts and let us know what you think.  

Aaron Sunday
Instructional Designer, Division of Online Studies
aaron.sunday@daytonastate.edu | 386-506-3209 
http://www.daytonastate.edu/onlinestudies/

Using Stream in Falcon Online

Most of us have watched a cat video or two on YouTube. You may have even posted videos on your own YouTube Channel to use in your course. But have you heard of Stream?

What Is Stream?

Stream is Microsoft’s version of YouTube. It’s part of the Office 365 suite of tools that every DSC Instructor has free access to. And as soon as you complete the simple 5-minute video training, you’ll be able to begin streaming your own videos on Stream!

Why Stream?

First, it’s user friendly. In just a few minutes, you can be up and running.

Also, there’s no need to create an account. Since you have a DSC email address and Office 365, you have access to Stream! Remember, you must complete the video training to gain access. 

One difference, and perhaps “advantage” of Stream over YouTube, is that it is a closed system. The videos are not searchable by the general public like most YouTube videos. Videos posted to Stream “live” within Daytona State College’s ecosystem – not Google’s - which gives you more control over your content. 

Stream will auto generate captions for your videos, and editing those captions for accuracy is super easy. That’s important because DSC is committed to ensuring that all our videos are accessible and ADA compliant. 

Of course, Stream video content can be easily embedded in your course for students to view.

Test Drive Stream

If you’re interested in learning more about using Stream in your course, contact the Faculty Innovation Center about training opportunities. Or simply watch the video linked below.

Faculty Innovation Center

As always, the Faculty Innovation Center is here to provide support and work together with answering questions you might have. Stop by Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm in Building 150, Suite 200, call x3485, or email fic@daytonastate.edu.

Kevin Lorden
Video Producer, Instructional Resources
kevin.lorden@daytonastate.edu
386-506-3576