At UT Dallas, instructors have access to several high-tech tools that assist in identifying students in distress. During CTL’s Resource Week, Dr. Courtney Brecheen, senior associate dean in the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE), teamed up with Katrina Adams, eLearning manager in Educational Technology Services (ETS), to highlight three high-tech instructional resources.
This tool, available in eLearning, provides an overview of student performance and potential areas of concern. At the top of the interface, a red bar displays the count of students identified as “at risk.” Below this, a table lists all enrolled students, with columns representing various predefined at-risk factors such as missed deadlines, grade alerts, activity alerts, and access alerts. The system allows instructors to customize these factors to align with their specific needs. It’s also possible to target specific students, offering a tailored approach to address individual needs and track progress.
This eLearning tool offers a wealth of valuable data that can aid instructors in monitoring their courses and making informed decisions about student performance. These reports include information on when students access the course, which course content they engage with, the duration of their interactions, and their corresponding grades. Instructors can run reports for the entire class or for specific students, adjusting the time frame as needed.
The early alert system proactively addresses academic concerns by setting specific criteria in advance. For instance, instructors can use the system to trigger automated email notifications based on preselected measures, such as missed classes or poor performance on initial exams. Instructors then can choose whether they want students to respond directly to them or receive an email connecting them to the Graduation Help Desk. Housed within OUE, the help desk is a one-stop hub for students experiencing academic and nonacademic challenges that may impede progress, overall well-being, or the path to graduation. For more information, watch the recording of their presentation in the CTL eLearning Resource site or email eLearning@utdallas.edu.