Close & sign-off

Your final post during the teaching period should provide a positive lasting impression. Do the obvious things like thank the learners for their input, wish them well in their future studies, and say that you hope they have a happy and fun break.

In addition, depending on the subject and year level, you might also link learners to careers advisors or mentoring opportunities, or other university activities and services. Engagement with the institution is vital to retention.

You might also remind learners about the course evaluation survey. Find out when this is distributed.

In the final week of the course, communicate with learners and consider the following steps:

1. Wrap up the course and ask learners for feedback about their learning experience.
2. Summarise the key concepts and ideas of the course.
3. Explain how this course links other courses in the program..
4. If the learners have provided feedback, tell them what you intend to do about any issues raised.
5. Open a discussion forum to invite learners to reflect on their learning. What they are taking away from the course? How they will apply this in their study? How will it impact on their career journey?
6. Farewell your learners in a positive way – you might like to record and post a video to do this. Take a look at the example end of course message below.

Consider the following example

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Example of a final week notice

We’re at the end of the course and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best, and to thank you for your contributions, commitment and participation.

I have really enjoyed facilitating this course. I hope you have found the tasks interesting and my feedback useful. The most rewarding part of the course for me was our discussions in connecting the theory to actual industry scenarios and sharing work experiences.

Based on your feedback during the course, I will be adding a greater number of current business magazine articles to the discussion area. I will also be using Adobe Connect for regular virtual office times – one evening each week as many of you could not make it to the session during the day.

Please join in our last discussion to share what you will be taking away from the course and how you might apply your learning in further studies and your career.

Wishing you all the very best in your studies and careers.

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