No news is good news right? Maybe! Or maybe not...

1. Creating Awareness through Email

One of the tasks I put on my calendar is to send out "beginning of the semester" and "end of the semester" reminders for faculty. These reminders contain the basics of course copy with links to tip sheets and tutorials as well as best practices for faculty in the saving of their course content, gradebooks, etc. 

In these reminder emails, I know that some of the faculty reading the email will not be users of Blackboard, so I attempt to focus the theme of the email on how easy it is to get started and to perform basic functions.  I also put in a teaser periodically of something cool coming up.  For example, I highlight our Teaching, Learning, and Technology Showcase (mentioned in #4 below) and occasionally I'll include some student survey feedback on how much they like it that faculty use Blackboard.  Finally, I'll also add a teaser such as: "Want to know who your students are for next semester? Login today and view the student photo roster!".

In the end, these short and brief semester emails let faculty know the basics and faq's (which in turn helps fend off some of the help desk calls we get) while also encouraging faculty that aren't using Bb, to join in!

Finally, on occasion, I'll target faculty who have never logged into Blackboard and I'll also send them an email of encouragement and link them to our upcoming training sessions.  The tone of these emails are meant to be encouraging and to inform the faculty and make them aware of support resources and assistance that is available.

2. Creating Awareness though Campus Publications

Another resource I have used is to leverage our existing communication channels such as: "GRCC Today" and "The Collegiate".  GRCC Today is an all staff email that goes out with highlights from everything from street closings due to construction and upcoming news and events.  We place upcoming training sessions for Blackboard in this communication, as well as notices about upcoming conferences such as miBUG, BbWorld, and the TLT Showcase.

The Collegiate is the student newspaper, and we have worked with student writers and the advisor for the program on highlighting faculty that are taking an innovative approach with Blackboard.  We have also used this communication resource as a way to introduce features such as the iPhone and Facebook Blackboard Sync applications.

Using existing publications such as these can be another great way to share with your stakeholders about what is happening in Blackboard.  It's really a nice way to spread out the communication so that it doesn't seem to always come from the "Distance Learning Department" or some other location.

3. Creating Awareness through Recognition

While attending various conferences through the year, I'll often grab a few more "giveaways" in the vendor hall.  These giveaways are useful in our faculty training sessions and also for targeted "Thank You Notes".  Periodically, I'll go through and find the top active faculty on our Blackboard system and send them a short and small token of appreciation for leveraging Blackboard in their teaching.  In the interoffice mail envelope, I'll add in a pen, button, stress worm, etc. along with the letter to the faculty member who is using Blackboard.  It's a small touch, but it really helps to establish an environment where the faculty know they are appreciated for putting in the extra effort.

In addition, throughout the year that are various times on the server where access is lower.  Say, Spring Break, Christmas, or other holidays.  One of the strategies I've used in the past is to take a record of those faculty that logged in during this time period and send them a quick email to say "thank you" for taking the time to login to Blackboard over the holiday break to respond to students.

Finally, I will also send out an email when faculty take an extra step and make their courses available early to students before the semester start date.  This shows that the faculty members are prepared, engaged, and what is even better, students can get early access to their course and the materials so that they can be prepared for the first day of class.

It is worth mentioning that you wouldn't want to over communicate and "spam" faculty with such email.  But in balance, and sporadically throughout the year, this type of email communication contributes to an environment that is more dynamic and at the same time keeps everyone "plugged in" while also building an effective rapport.

4. Creating Awareness through Special Events

Every year we take the time to plan a day where faculty can come together around the topic of technology and teaching.  We call this event the: "Teaching, Learning, and Technology Showcase (TLT Showcase)".  The underlying purpose is really to get faculty out of their classrooms and offices and talking with each other face-to-face.  It's an opportunity as well for faculty to learn from each other while also being recognized for their innovative approaches to applying technology to teaching and learning. 

Photo from GRCC's TLT Showcase

The TLT Showcase is run as an "electronic" poster session so that faculty presenters really don't need to prepare anything formal... they just show up and be willing to talk to other faculty about how they are using blocks and wikis in their Blackboard course, how they are reaching students through podcasting, etc.  It's a great event that is becoming quite popular.   Whats more, this event helps create awareness of how the campus is benefiting from using Blackboard!

5. Name yours! 

How does your campus get the word about about faculty and what they are doing to meet student's needs?  Add a comment and share your idea as well!