Sending a Pre-Course Letter

The pre-course letter is a way to address this, and is also your first chance to explain how the course will be taught.

A typical pre-course letter will include:

  • A welcoming note from the instructor
  • What to do on the first day of class
  • The course syllabus (or a link to it)
  • Any special considerations for your class (e.g. unusual required software)
  • Links to self-assessments about readiness for online/hybrid classes

There are several examples which can be used to start your own pre-course letter.

Scheduling

The letter can be sent multiple times, and can be varied (for instance, with updates on available information, textbook status in the bookstore, etc).

Sample schedule:

  • Two weeks before the quarter starts: first letter. 
  • One week before the quarter starts, re-send the letter with any updates, and to newly added students.
  • The first day of classes, send a short welcome note, with any repeat information (especially about the first assignment deadline).

Remember to check for roster changes to make sure any students who add the class in the last few days before the quarter see it.

Sending the letter

Pre-course letters are typically sent via email, to the students' MyHighline email address. This is the same address to which registration and financial aid information is sent. There are two ways to do this:

Email via the class schedule

  1. Go to the online Class Schedule (https://classes.highline.edu). 
  2. Log in at the top right corner, using your Highline username and password.
  3. Find your class in the schedule. Hint: use the search tool at the left to select only your courses. 
  4. Click on the "Email all enrolled students" link. If you don't see this link, check to see that you're logged in to the site.
  5. Your mail software will open; paste in your message, then send to your students. 

Email via Canvas

This is slightly more complicated, because Canvas will not send email to students until the class is a) published and b) reaches the start date. 

  1. Unpublish any modules that you don't want students to see before the class starts. Hint: Publish the Start Here module, so students can start that work.
  2. Change the start date for the course Links to an external site. to the first day you plan to email students. 
    • Remember to click "Users can only participate in the course between these dates". 
  3. Save the updated course settings.
  4. Click on Inbox in Canvas, and send the message to your entire class Links to an external site..