Gone are the days of posting a typed script. Students are increasingly submitting their assignment via electronic methods. Students can get very concerned about the mechanics of submission – getting it wrong can make them feel at best anxious, at worst cross. Neither of these emotions encourages a Sense of Belonging. Think about how you will communicate the mechanics of submission. Involve key stakeholders (e.g. assessors, administrators, students). Is the process as streamlined as it could be? Are the instructions clear? Is it clear what the student should do if they don’t understand? If they miss the deadline? Can you use the same process for a formative assessment so they can practice when the assessment is low stakes?

Example: Murray liaised with the programme administrators to identify frequently asked questions. He then made screencasts for online issues such as how to submit an assignment and how to open the Turnitin report (if appropriate). This dramatically decreased the number of queries coming through to the administrative staff, and was highlighted in evaluation as something valued by the students. They reported feeling their needs were understood and considered. He now plans to make short videos relating to other key questions.