Several weeks ago I attended a Tuesday faculty learning community. While in that meeting, we were all sharing questions and/or strategies. One strategy that was shared by Libby was the 1, 2, 3, me strategy. The purpose of the strategy is to have the students ask their peers and check their resources or notes (1, 2, and 3) and then seek out the professor (the “me”).
I have a major assignment due on Friday, and my students been given a little over a week to work on this assignment. Today I had two students email me about the readings and requirements for this particular assignment. At first, my initial feelings were frustration. Didn’t they know what the assignment was and where to find the articles? And then I felt consumed with self-doubt. Did I not upload the assignment to Canvas? Did I not list out the articles? Was it me?
So I started do to some digging. First, I checked my class notebook, which had the assignment listed. Second, I checked my lesson plan for the day the assignment was given, and the assignment was there. Third, I looked at Canvas to see if the assignment, with the articles, was there, and it was. Then I started to realize; I just went through the 1, 2, 3, process without needing to get to “me.” Are students not comfortable going through the other avenues before coming to me? Is it faster to just come to me? Am I helping them learn how to find the information when I respond to their emails with the answers? Or am I hindering them from learning when I respond to their emails with the answers? All of these questions led me to reply to their emails with the exact same email, encouraging them to use their other resources first:
Dear Student,
Thank you for your email. The articles and assessment expectations are listed on Canvas. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me.
All the best,
Molly Broere
I realized that I needed to direct my students to the resources, so they start to treat those as the 1, 2, or 3 before they get to me. I know it’s a delicate balance because we’re so grateful when students reach out for help or when they have a question, but I also think it’s a great learning lesson for them (and me) to show them how they can use other resources before coming to the direct source.