Using Announcements Effectively - Teaching Principles

Here are several principles for making announcements effective. As you study these principles, reflect on ways you can use them in your own online classes.

Clear and Concise Communication

• Announcements should not be lengthy. If they become too long, learners will lose interest in the information.

• Care should be taken to make sure that what you are trying to say is clearly stated so that learners do not misunderstand. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles taught that “clear, accurate, simple is the divine way of teaching” (“The Power of Jesus Christ and Pure Doctrine” [Teaching Youth and Young Adults Broadcast, June 2023], Gospel Library).

Make Announcements Visual

• Along with text, consider adding visuals, videos, and other appropriate media to enhance communication with learners.

• When choosing images or videos to use, make sure they are appropriate and relevant to the message you are sharing. Wonderful images and videos can be found in the Church’s Media Library.

• Avoid using large numbers of colors and fonts. Too many visual elements can be distracting for the learner.

Use Announcements to Connect

• Announcements can also be used to create a dialogue with class members by selecting the “Allow users to comment” feature. This allows teachers and learners to reply to the announcement and to each other, much like a discussion board.

• Using this feature can also turn the announcement into a safe place for learners to ask questions about assignments, class expectations, and the material they are studying. For instructions on how to enable user replies to announcements, see “How do I allow or disallow announcement replies in Canvas?”

Discuss with Your Supervisor

Take some time to go through the prompts listed below. Prepare to discuss them with your local S&I supervisor.

• Share an example of an announcement you have written with your supervisor, and ask for feedback.

• What are good ways to use announcements to foster a dialogue among class members?