1. EARLY REPORTING
PROJECT UPDATE
July 11, 2012

2. Summary of Project
• Spring 2012 classes
• KC Online classes
• Blackboard mentors
• College 100 pilot
• Total of 521 students, 13 instructors, 28 sections
• 106 students completed the survey (20%)

3. Summary continued
• Instructors were asked to send progress notices to every
student in their section at least 3 times
• Suggested times were 2nd week, 4th week and midterm.
• Reminders were sent to instructors for these times.
• Instructors were provided training
• Face-to-face sessions on several campuses
• Self-paced tutorial online

4. Analysis of Pilot
• Data will come from Research—comparison to other class
sections—retention and grade information
• Surveys sent to students—20% completed the survey
• Feedback requested from instructors

5. Was getting an email from your instructor an effective way for you
to receive information on your progress in the class?
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes 84.0% 89
No 16.0% 17

6. Did getting an email prompt you to communicate with your
instructor?
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes 73.3% 77
No 26.7% 28

7. Was the communication with your instructor effective for you?
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes 93.4% 71
No 6.6% 5

8. Did the message you received contain useful information for you?
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes 87.3% 89
No 12.7% 13

9. If the message you received directed you to use support services
such as the learning center, library, academic advisors,
counselors, etc., did you use these services?
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes 32.4% 33
No 13.7% 14
N/A 53.9% 55

10. Which services did you use as a result of the email from your
instructor?
Response Response
Percent Count
Tutoring, Learning Resources or
Academic Resource Center
36.7% 11
Library 56.7% 17
Academic Advising 13.3% 4
Counseling 0.0% 0
Financial Aid 3.3% 1
Access Office 6.7% 2
Testing Center 3.3% 1
Other (please specify)
Show Responses
13.3% 4

11. • Other: Tech Line, Online Research, Instructor, SmarThinking

12. If your grade needed improvement, were you able to make
changes to improve your grade?
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes 65.3% 66
No 34.7% 35

13. Would you recommend instructors provide grade feedback in
other classes at MCC?
Response Response
Percent Count
Yes 92.1% 93
No 7.9% 8

14. What improvements could we make to the way we
provide progress notifications?
• “Since this was the first online class that gave the periodic
benchmarks, I do not have any suggestions at this point. I
do want to make mention that the feedback was useful to
me.”
• “Continue using both Blackboard and emails. It is going
great in my opinion.”
• “Make sure to include advice on how to improve.”
• “Send current grade with the progress report.”
• “The system you currently have was sufficient for
correspondence with my instructors.”

15. What improvements could we make to the way we
provide progress notifications? (Cont’d)
• “Instructor messages within Blackboard were
easier than email. I’m just not good at checking
my school email.”
• “I was one of the students that was doing well in
the course and didn’t need much direction. I think
it would be nice if you make the emails more
personally focused. Regardless, the notifications
were a very nice indicator of my progress and
helped to keep me motivated.”
• “Taylor the number of emails on progress to the
length of the class session. Example 8 wk
sessions might have two or three where 16
weeks sessions would have four or five.”

16. What improvements could we make to the way we
provide progress notifications? (Cont’d)
• “My grades are generally good, but for students struggling
it is always nice if the teacher approaches the student in
some way to ask if there is anything they can do to help
them out.”
• “I believe no changes need to be made.”
• “Send out notifications after each section or test.”
• “Reminding students to look in the “My Grades” section
and ask for guidance on improving grades.”
• “Let the student know their shortcomings and steps to
improve.”

17. Do you have any other comments?
• “Great system, worked well.”
• “I am sure that email might be a great way for other
students, just not for myself. However, messages in the
course learning was beneficial.”
• “If student is not doing well, the instructor should give
clearer instructions, for people to understand.”
• “I found it unnecessary and redundant to get the email;
however, I am also very good at checking my grade in BB.
It was probably helpful to others. This was not eh fault of
the instructor, just not necessary for me.”
• “The emails were good because Blackboard is a little slow
sometimes.”

18. Other comments, non-related to Early
Alert.
• Several students made recommendations for improved
technology and a few complained that email was behind
the times.
• At least three instructors were complimented on their
teaching techniques; James Moes, Stephanie Zerkel, and
Katherine Melles.
• Many students asked for more communication from the
instructor and more timely communication.

19. Faculty Response
• It is easy to use and the flexibility makes it fit the variety of
instructor styles.
• Still some uncertainty about why we would send
notifications to students who are doing well
• Some push-back or dread about being “required” to do
this.
• Some instructors who already send messages regularly
appreciated learning about the Bb tools that make this
process easier.

20. Faculty Comments
• I have sent course progress notifications weekly (8 week
sessions) and bi-weekly (16 week sessions). As I have
stated previously, I have found the new system incredibly
beneficial.
• I have been trying to send out the updating emails that
distance ed. recommends and the feedback has been
positive.
• I just wanted to let you know I have sent out messages in
my courses, and the students are loving the feedback! I
am really pleased this was implemented.

21. Faculty Comments continued
• About the notifications...so far this semester I haven't sent
any because students have either just self-dropped
without notification to me or I have contacted through
phone calls or emails. I don't have anyone with problems
at this point, but I tend to just call students that I'm really
worried about.
• I do what you all suggested and send messages out
through the Early Warning System. I run it every
Wednesday at noon and send a message to all students
below a 70%. It has worked well, and some students have
turned in late work as a result.

22. Increased Communications
To: Katherine.Melles
Subject: Re: 1121_PV_8W2_HUMN_140_20100: Humn 140
Wow. Thank you. I must say this is the first time I have received
an email like this since I started school. Your thoughtfulness is
greatly appreciated. :)
On Sat, Apr 7, 2012 at 1:23 PM, Katherine R Melles wrote:
You are doing well in this course. Please continue your efforts, and
if you have questions, don't hesitate to contact me. My office is
located in ST 307 on the Penn Valley campus, and my office hours
are Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00-11:00.
Keep up the good work!

23. College 100 Plans
• All College 100 course sites in Blackboard have been set
up with rules the Early Warning System and color coding
in the GradeCenter.
• Instruction on how to send progress notifications is
included in the College 100 instructor training
• Instructors will be expected to use the system to notify
students of their progress at least 3 times by midterm.

24. KC Online Plans
• KC Online instructors are expected to send out progress
notifications at least 3 times during the course.
• Included in the faculty guide:
Student progress reports--required
• As part of KC Online, you will be expected to notify each student in your
class of his or her progress in the course at least 3 times prior to
midterm. The expected dates correspond roughly with the times that
you should be submitting an attendance roster. For summer, this would
be after the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks.
• There is training on the various methods of contacting your students in
Blackboard, or you can access it here: Early Reporting Lesson
• Your messages should contain the following information:
• The class and instructor
• Status of their performance compared to the course expectations
• What they can do to improve their performance
• Your contact information

25. PV First Time/First Year
• Advisory group has discussed using this process with
their students.
• Presentation made to the group in May, 2012.

26. Maple Woods
• Offering training July 2012 for interested faculty
• Will be presenting a faculty panel discussion for in-service
in August
• Roll-out for Fall, 2012

27. BTC, Blue River and Longview
• Will be presenting at Fall In-service

28. Recommendations from Pilot
MESSAGES:
1. Emphasize sending notifications to ALL students, not
just those at risk
2. Include specific grade information for students
3. Include resources and services students can use to
improve their performance.

29. Recommendations from Pilot
CHANGES IN MCC PROCESSES:
1. Add a suggestion in the attendance roster reminder
email to notify students of their progress.
2. Add a tab/link to student email in Blackboard
3. Improve syncing of MCC communications tools—
messages, email, portal

30. Next Steps
• Increase training options to more faculty
• Have received requests from individual faculty and small faculty
groups
• Make the online training more evident
• Develop training for use with MetroSoft email utility rather than Bb
• Offer training on campuses
• Work with Campus leadership groups to facilitate rollout
plans specific to each campus

31. Questions?