Using Announcements Effectively - Application Ideas

Now that you have had a chance to explore the principles of effective announcements, consider the following suggestions to improve announcements in your online class:

• Write an announcement to your class in which you teach a short lesson to your learners about something from the week’s study material.

• Set a goal for yourself to post an announcement to your learners each week. The Guidelines for Successful Online Teaching suggest posting one announcement at the beginning of each week.

• Create a template for your announcements. This can keep them organized, simple, and clear for your learners. For example, you could include elements like an introduction, an overview for the week, a short teaching message, your testimony of Jesus Christ, and a conclusion.

• Insert a video or image from the Church’s Media Library in an announcement to enhance your learners’ experience.

Incorporate Recorded Audio and Video

• Canvas allows you to record audio or video messages directly into an announcement. This helps learners hear your voice and make appropriate connections with you. Consider including these kinds of recordings in your announcements.

• For instructions on how to add media to a Canvas announcement, see “How do I embed media from an external source in the Rich Content Editor as an instructor?”

Change Announcement Notification Settings

• Learners can change their Canvas settings so they receive an alert when a new announcement is created.

• The default for all users when a new announcement is posted should be to “Notify immediately.” However, consider sharing with your learners the Canvas Help Guide entitled “Canvas Notifications.” This resource outlines how to adjust a user’s Canvas notification preferences. Direct them to the announcements notification setting. Ask them to ensure that “Notify immediately” is set for announcements.

Discuss with Your Supervisor

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

• Demonstrate your ability to create an announcement that includes an image or video. If you are still struggling, ask your supervisor for help.

• Discuss with your supervisor a format you could use to make your announcements clearer and more concise.