Advisor Advice: Support Student Success in Canvas

The Learning Analytics DiaLOG group met with University of Minnesota advisors and student success professionals in the Fall of 2021. The goal was to get advice about how instructors can support students throughout the semester specifically when students are faced with making decisions about their academic preparedness and appropriate course load.

On the topic of learning data, advisors emphasized, to be effective, learning data has to exist within a supportive environment: Invitations to office hours, timely access to supplemental course materials, and referrals to academic and mental health support professionals are all part of a learning ecosystem. Students need timely information about their performance, and part of that messaging needs to address what action they can take.

Information students need and when they need it

Advisors were asked to identify significant points in the semester and types of information helpful to students at these points. Below is their checklist.