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Communication Course Hybrid and Asynchronous Syllabi
This semester is flying by! How is it late October already? We are entering week 10 here at Shepherd University. I promised several weeks ago to share my syllabi for this semester. As the saying goes, “better late than never.” 🙂
Below, you will find 2 syllabi from courses I have discussed previously on this blog. You will also find a brand new syllabus for a class that I have never shared on this blog before: COMM 203 Communication & New Media. This is a course that is commonly called Introduction to Mass Communication or similarly titled at other universities.
Continue reading Here Are My Social Media and Strategic Campaigns Hybrid Course Syllabi and my Introduction to Mass Communications Asynchronous Syllabus →
Building Classroom Culture in the Zoom Classroom
It is a strange and challenging semester for us and our students. Many of us are teaching online synchronously through platforms like Zoom. While adjusting our content and delivery approaches are challenges in and of themselves, there are other important considerations for building a positive and effective learning environment. For me, classroom culture and establishing rapport with and between my students are important considerations. A welcoming classroom culture can make all the difference in our students’ learning and in our sense of accomplishment and satisfaction with the classes we teach.
Building rapport with our students and developing a classroom culture are skills that we learn throughout our years in the classroom. But how do you build rapport and culture in a Zoom classroom?
I know many people are coming up with fun, creative ways to brighten up their students’ day and make classes feel more human. In this post, I will share a quick and easy activity I introduced this semester with my Zoom classes to help overcome this challenge: the Zoom Background Challenge.
Continue reading Building Classroom Culture in the Zoom Classroom Era →
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Brand Crisis Response Compare and Contrast Activity: Brands Doing Good in a Time of Crisis
I’ve created a brief online discussion/presentation activity for students in my Public Relations Principles class. The assignment asks students to compare and contrast 2 brands in the same category in terms of how they are communicating with publics amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s my ask for students: Find 2 organizations that are doing good during these trying times and share them with us.
Continue reading Brand Crisis Response Activity for Social Media and PR Online Classes →
Teaching Online in the Age of COVID-19
With the news that many universities are closing in person classes, the transition to online teaching is underfoot. Many of us are scrambling to take our face-to-face model and put it online, amid the general uncertainty and other pressures we are facing (e.g., concerns for our loved ones, children suddenly out of school or daycare, runs of food and household supplies, the general stress of this event, etc).
Below, are some online teaching resources that have been shared by amazing, dedicated faculty these last few days. It is so heartwarming to see professors from across the globe coming together to help one another out. I’ve also sprinkled in some of my past blog posts that you may find helpful for both online teaching and for thriving as a ‘virtual educator’ in the weeks and months ahead.
Continue reading Transitioning to Online Teaching During COVID-19: Resources and Tools →
A Social Media Education Blog by Matthew J. Kushin, Ph.D.