Ways to make content more relevant to students

• Instructor should establish relevance at the beginning of each class and reiterate with each assignment
• Whenever possible, use content that is current and relevant to students' lives. Try to use topics that will be relevant to a diverse student population; not just certain groups (teens, adults, etc.)

Ways to engage students in content

• Create a "buddy system" for students who have established the need for support
• Tie topics in (wherever possible) to current events in the media so students get "extra" exposure through normal media interaction
• Offer extra credit to 1-2 students who want to generate a blog for the semester

Tips for using content-related online tools

• Create assignments that incorporate social networking and communication tools.
• Use folders to organize assignments due by week which keeps (Week 1, Week 2, etc. folders)
• Use navigation menus to clearly delineate assignments, materials, etc. For example, name tabs clearly such as "Syllabus," "Essays," etc.

Tips for inviting students to use content-related tools and sources

• Use examples and invite students to showcase ways they have used the applications
• Offer extra credit to 1-2 students who would like to start a BlogSpot (health, consumerism, student online experiences, female voice, etc.)

Tips for disappearing students

• Communicate often
• Contact them, don't wait for them to contact you
• Praise often
• Reiterate student expectations and methods for contacting the instructor
• Offer an online student/faculty social hour mid-semester
• Send multiple emails
• Offer either a phone conversation or face-to-face meeting to get a better understanding of the reasons for the students' disappearance and explore ways to assist the student in completing the semester