{"id":12932,"date":"2020-08-21T13:02:02","date_gmt":"2020-08-21T03:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/educational-innovation.sydney.edu.au\/teaching@sydney\/?p=12932"},"modified":"2020-09-21T12:47:18","modified_gmt":"2020-09-21T02:47:18","slug":"a-style-guide-to-provide-clarity-and-improve-students-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/educational-innovation.sydney.edu.au\/teaching@sydney\/a-style-guide-to-provide-clarity-and-improve-students-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"A style guide to provide clarity and improve students\u2019 experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

C<\/span>ommen<\/span>ts<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>shared by students<\/span>\u00a0in the semester 1 USS<\/span>, and\u00a0<\/span>presented\u00a0<\/span>as a qualitative\u00a0<\/span>topic<\/span>–<\/span>model\u00a0<\/span>analysis\u00a0<\/span>at this year\u2019s Symposium\u00a0<\/span>by\u00a0<\/span>Jess F<\/span>r<\/span>awl<\/span>e<\/span>y and Sam\u00a0<\/span>Clarke<\/span><\/a>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>highlighted\u00a0<\/span>something that we know well:\u00a0<\/span>students<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>value\u00a0<\/span>clear communication and\u00a0<\/span>clear\u00a0<\/span>expectation<\/span>s<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>By way of\u00a0<\/span>the USS<\/span>\u00a0survey,<\/span>\u00a0s<\/span>tudents<\/span>\u00a0have<\/span>\u00a0provided\u00a0<\/span>indisputable<\/span>\u00a0feedback<\/span>. C<\/span>learly explain<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0content,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>clear weekly structure and clearly\u00a0<\/span>structure<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0online teaching w<\/span>ere\u00a0<\/span>amongst the best aspects of their\u00a0<\/span>experience<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Equally, s<\/span>tudents\u00a0<\/span>frequently\u00a0<\/span>shared that hard to follow structure,\u00a0<\/span>lack of clarity\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>especially\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>assignments<\/span>)<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>too much content<\/span>\u00a0were aspects that needed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>most<\/span>\u00a0improvemen<\/span>t.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>It is i<\/span>mportant\u00a0<\/span>to be\u00a0reminded\u00a0<\/span>of<\/span>\u00a0these<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>issues<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>to consider\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>practical changes that you can make to improve communication and set clear expectations<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>when you publish<\/span>\u00a0learning materials<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>your Canvas site<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Publishers know that a clear message is\u00a0<\/span>essential<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>In\u00a0<\/span>research<\/span>\u00a0publications<\/span>\u00a0we\u00a0<\/span>aim for\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>concise<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>persuasive\u00a0<\/span>abstract as we<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>know that\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>abstract<\/span>\u00a0is the tool to\u00a0<\/span>co<\/span>m<\/span>municate<\/span>\u00a0your research succinctly while\u00a0<\/span>highlighting its most important facets<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>News publishers,\u00a0<\/span>such as the BBC<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0know\u00a0<\/span>that a clear message is essential<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>he BBC\u00a0<\/span>style guide<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is an iconic document\u00a0<\/span>provided to<\/span>\u00a0ensure\u00a0<\/span>consistency<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>because<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>as we know to<\/span>o<\/span>\u00a0well<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>ypos and blunder<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>make great<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>headlines<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>To<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>help Canvas\u00a0<\/span>publishers of learning materials\u00a0<\/span>w<\/span>e have developed\u00a0<\/span>a short style guide<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to help you\u00a0<\/span>keep your resources and Canvas site clear and consistent.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This post was contributed by Catherine Walsh,\u00a0Tina Barclay\u00a0and Andrew Carfax-Foster, Education Design\u00a0Team\u00a0in the Faculty of Medicine and Health.<\/p>\n

1. Always state week and date<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Semester\u00a0<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a02020 is quite unique in our university\u2019s history, not least of which, the university is running two\u00a0<\/span>concurrent\u00a0<\/span>semester 2 sessions. On the face of\u00a0<\/span>it, two semesters<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0a simple solution to an organisational issue<\/span>. However, f<\/span>rom the student\u2019s point of view this may provide an extra layer of complexity and confusion.<\/span>\u00a0We have\u00a0<\/span>two week<\/span>\u00a05<\/span>s<\/span>, two final e<\/span>xam\u00a0<\/span>periods<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and extra intensive sessions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>There is an easy way to bring\u00a0clarity<\/span>;<\/span>\u00a0s<\/span>imply always state week and date.\u00a0<\/span>Always.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When presenting lectures, when typing due dates in documents and\u00a0<\/span>when\u00a0<\/span>produc<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0lecture slides<\/span>\u00a0specify both the week and the date<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Time management and planning are essential skills for\u00a0<\/span>student\u00a0<\/span>success<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>You can h<\/span>elp reduce<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>trip hazards\u00a0<\/span>for students\u00a0<\/span>by simply\u00a0<\/span>always stating week and date<\/span>\u00a0in every document you publish.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Use the calendar\u00a0<\/span>to improve\u00a0<\/span>planning and prioritising\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

With more online activities now that students are not often on campus it is helpful to provide clear alerts to online activities. We want students to be able to easily understand the requirements of the\u00a0course\u00a0<\/span>so we need<\/span>\u00a0to communicate clear expectations.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Canvas is\u00a0<\/span>clever<\/span>. It generates calendar items and the to do list for\u00a0<\/span>you and your\u00a0<\/span>students when<\/span>ever<\/span>\u00a0you\u00a0<\/span>set a date<\/span>\u00a0using the\u00a0<\/span>calendar<\/span>\u00a0form in the text box<\/span>. Every place a date is used in your Canvas site, as an Assignment, Discussion Board, Quiz or Zoom tutorial<\/span>, a calendar item is generated.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can<\/span>\u00a0also<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>add additional calendar\u00a0reminders<\/span><\/a>, to help\u00a0<\/span>students plan their learning and organise themselves.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When you use the calendar text box to add a date the dates\u00a0<\/span>also<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>appear in the\u00a0<\/span>To Do List<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>Syllabus page<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>, for assessments, the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Marks<\/span>\u00a0page.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a03.\u00a0<\/span>Use Canvas modules for site integrity and cohesion.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Canvas is a publication and a well-designed publication needs a clear structure<\/span>, an index or table of contents<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The organising principle for your course structure is\u00a0<\/span>Modules<\/span><\/a>, in which you make pages and show the course progression for students.\u00a0<\/span>Mo<\/span>dules are used to organize course content by weeks, units, or a different organizational structure.\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>Modules essentially create a one-directional linear flow of what students should do in a course.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Think of\u00a0<\/span>modules\u00a0<\/span>as\u00a0<\/span>providing<\/span>\u00a0a cohesive architecture\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>benefits student-centred<\/span>\u00a0learning.\u00a0<\/span>Cohesion also suggests that students feel they belong together as a group with mutual dependence in the community of their unit of study, which is housed in your Canvas site. We want student<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0to navigate easily in a space they feel is their community.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Practical tip:\u00a0<\/span>Make sure modules are visible to students\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>your course menu, add new pages, as<\/span>signments, discussion and other learning content\u00a0<\/span>to the modules as you\u00a0<\/span>publish<\/span>\u00a0them.\u00a0<\/span>Plan this page as a linear table of content<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0and keep it up to date.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Us<\/span>e\u00a0<\/span>headings to chunk<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Even if you didn\u2019t read th<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0article, you probably still read t<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>heading above this sentence.\u00a0<\/span>The heading is an example of a\u00a0<\/span>UX<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>(user-experience web design)\u00a0<\/span>chunking strategy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In general usage, a \u2018chunk\u2019 means a piece or part of something larger. In the field of cognitive psychology, a chunk is an organizational unit in memory.\u00a0<\/span>According to cognitive load theory people have a limited capacity to process new content at a given time. We process our thinking about new information in our working memory before we reinforce it and shift it to long term memory. Chunking of new information is a\u00a0<\/span>s<\/span>trat<\/span>egy you can use in your classroom<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to help student<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0remember and learn.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the field of user-experience design, \u2018chunking\u2019 usually refers to breaking up content into small, distinct units of information.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>In your C<\/span>an<\/span>vas site you can u<\/span>s<\/span>e\u00a0<\/span>UX\u00a0strategies used by web designers to\u00a0<\/span>chunk content and\u00a0<\/span>get a reader’s attention:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n