hi everybody, I hope your semester is going well! I wanted to quickly share with everybody a new assignment I am using this semester which so far is having great results (I opened my classes last Monday and almost all the students chose to get started early). in the past I've had students do an online course contract with me, but it was very mechanical and not personalized or individualized in any way. this semester, I am asking students to do the contract but also to CHOOSE THREE SUCCESS STRATEGIES that they think will help them do well in the class and send me back a note about that. here's the assignment: http://www.mythfolklore.net/3043mythfolklore/orientation/contract.htm and here's the list of success strategies I've asked them to look at and choose from: http://www.bestmoodle.net/ks/cp/success.htm I think it's working well since I am getting some very interesting comments back from the students in response and they are choosing all different kinds of strategies, based on their own personal circumstances. anyway, I wanted to share this since it is a very simple assignment and is giving great results, helping to turn what was previously an empty (but necessary) exercise into a much more productive self-examination by the student and more interesting communication back to me. plus, it is not really specific to the content of my course at all... so I'm hoping that if students come up with success strategies for their online course, it will help them in their regular courses as well! :) Laura