Announcements and Reminders Students Will Actually Read
Time to read: 5 minutes
Are your course announcements and email reminders getting lost in the digital noise? Do you struggle to grab your students' attention amidst a sea of notifications? Crafting course announcements and reminders that students will actually read is an art form—one that requires a blend of clarity, creativity, and conciseness. Whether you're an experienced educator or just starting out, these tips will help you cut through the clutter and make your announcements a must-read for your students.
While instructors can use various strategies to make their announcements and reminders interesting and informative, students also play a crucial role in engaging with this communication. They must take the initiative to open and read these announcements and reminders regularly. That said, we are focusing on the areas inside our control - the information's content, message, and format.
Strategies With Examples For Practical Application
Keep It Clear and Concise
Students are more likely to read announcements that are brief and to the point. Avoid long-winded messages and get straight to the important information. Use bullet points or numbered lists to break up text and make it easier to digest.
Example 1: "Reminder: Quiz Tomorrow! Don't forget to review Chapters 1-3. Best of luck!"
Example 2: "Course Schedule Update: The guest lecture originally scheduled for Friday, April 15th, has been rescheduled to Monday, April 18th."
Use Engaging Language
Capture students' attention with engaging language that speaks directly to them. Use a friendly and conversational tone to make the announcement more personal and relatable.
Example 1: "Get Ahead with Office Hours! Drop by my office this week to discuss your term project and get personalized feedback."
Example 2: "Exciting News! We'll be reviewing cutting-edge research in next week's lecture. You won't want to miss it!"
Highlight Important Details
Use formatting techniques such as bold text, italics, or colors to emphasize key points. This will help students quickly scan the announcement and understand the most important details.
Example 1: "Important Assignment Due Date Change: The deadline for the term paper has been extended to April 30th."
Example 2: "Reminder Midterm Exam on Friday: Be sure to review your notes and complete the practice questions on Canvas."
Provide Context
When announcing upcoming assignments, events, or changes to the course schedule, provide context to help students understand the significance. Explain why the information is essential and how it relates to their learning experience.
Example 1: "Upcoming Workshop: Join us for a hands-on workshop on statistical analysis techniques essential for your upcoming research project."
Example 2: "Course Material Update: The new articles in Module 4 provide a foundational understanding of the theories we'll discuss in class."
Include Actionable Steps
Clearly outline any actions students must take in response to the announcement or reminder. Whether submitting an assignment, signing up for a workshop, or attending a lecture, clarify what is expected of them.
Example 1: "Action Required: Please complete the course evaluation survey by Friday to provide feedback on your learning experience."
Example 2: "Sign Up Today: Submit the registration form to the office by Wednesday to secure your spot for the student conference."
Use Multimedia
Incorporating multimedia elements such as images, videos, or GIFs can make your announcements more visually appealing and engaging. Just be sure that the media you use is relevant and enhances the message you're trying to convey.
Example 1: Include an image or infographic explaining the key concepts of an upcoming lecture.
Example 2: Share a short video previewing the guest speaker for an upcoming event.
Be Consistent
Establish a regular schedule for sending out announcements so students know when to expect them. This helps create a sense of routine and makes it easier for students to stay informed.
Example 1: Send out a weekly newsletter every Monday with updates on assignments, events, and reminders.
Example 2: Post a weekly announcement every Friday summarizing the week's highlights and previewing the following week's topics.
Crafting course announcements and reminders that students will actually read requires a combination of thoughtful planning, clear communication, and engaging content. Following these strategies, we can keep students engaged and informed throughout the semester.
Wait, There’s More!
Ready to take your teaching to the next level? Dive into our free guide on creating a mid-semester survey to supercharge student engagement!
Discover how to gather valuable feedback, fine-tune your approach, and make the rest of your semester even more impactful.
Don't miss out on this game-changing opportunity to enhance your classroom experience!
