How to use ICAN for early warning and reach-out for academic issues?

1. ICAN is found as the top-right tab of the Blackboard Panel; it is accesible from any course

2. ICAN summarizes information from Blackboard and PeopleSoft, making it easier to use

3. Access ICAN and navigate through its different tabs: Home, Appointments, Students and Services; they are self-explanatory

4. The first thing to do is setting your profile in ICAN, so the students will be able to find you in the system.

5. Click on the arrow pointing down next to your name in ICAN (top right of the panel). Then, fill-in data for:

6.  To complete your profile, click on the Home tab of ICAN and then open Office Hours. Set your office hours, so the students are able to make appointments with you. If your office hours change during different days of the week, you need to repeat this procedure as many differnt schedules you have.

7. Finding your Students: click on Students tab in ICAN and select appropriate Connection (role or course) and Term. It shows a list of students extracted from PeopleSoft; click on individual names to see basic data about the student

8. Use Students-->Tracking menu to determine what issues informed by the system or by other faculty may affect your students (e.g. lack of attendance, in jeopardy of failing, missing assignments)

9. Use Students-->Attendance to take class attendance. It is explained in other tutorial of this website

10. Use Students--> Send Message to communicate with students either individually or in group; messages are transmitted through the campus email

10. Use Students--> Flag: If you observe an issue that may have negative impact in  academic performance of a student, select the student in the list and click on the Flag button. It will show a series of warnings that are FERPA-approved to report about students. Select the approporiate warning and make a comment; it will generate a warning letter to the student and will be reported also to advisors and retention coordinator. Notice that there is also a flag for "Excellent Academic Peroformance"; use it when student outcomes are remarkable.

11. Use Students--> Kudos: This is another form of praising students for good work done. Select outstanding students in your class and send a rewarding message.

12. Another way of raising flags is through surveys that are sent to instructors twice during a regular semester (the fourth week and after mid-terms). The survey is a checklist with the names of students and common motives for raising flags. There is also a positive flag un the surveys.

13. Making Appointments: the crucial action for closing the cycle with respect to academic problems noted in a student is making an appointment to provide advise and determine a course of action. Click on the Appointments menu; then hit Appointment button for an individual appointment. Select the student or students to call for appointment; write a reason for the request and Submit. This will generate a message that is sent to the student through campus email and will appear in the Outlook calendar for both the student and the faculty or staff that originated the appointment.

14. How students find you in ICAN: when you contact students at the begining of the semester or other occassions, tell them that they will find you in My Success Network, left side menu of ICAN. The links for appointments or email will be located there.

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