Keep in mind that students' only contact with the instructor is via emails or messaging. So, be sure to make your presence known frequently throughout the week. Keeping students engaged is going to help them complete the classes (especially the 13-16 week classes).
Step 1:
Read through the Instructor Assignment Schedule. This contains information on when written assignments are due in each course. Be sure to add or update your Office Hours information in the classroom. Also, add a short bio (with an interesting fact about you) to the Meet Your Instructor forum prior to start of class. (Get familiar with the class site by navigating through it.)
Step 2:
Two days prior to start of class, send an email/message through the Moodle site to remind students of class start date and any other important information. Invite students to contact you if they have any questions.
Step 3:
Instructors must be available to correct paper assignments during the weeks specified. All papers must be reviewed and graded by end of day 2 of the subsequent week.
Grading must include:
Instructors are responsible for clearly explaining the area(s) that students may need to address for future paper assignments. The explanation should not be a personal attack, but have emphasis on why it's incorrect and how to correct it. You may suggest that they (This is college level. Students must learn to write on this level. Instructors must also be grammatically correct with their feedback and comments, in forum or assessment areas.) If students need a writing refresher, please notify their advisor so a writing class can be added to their class schedule.
Overall responsibilities include, but not limited to: showing your presence in the Discussion forums (by commenting and directing the conversations) at minimum every other day; sending email/message to students on Day 3 about discussion posting, Day 5 reminding students to respond to classmates' postings; weekly reading and reviewing Journal submissions (commenting and giving insights); and maintaining student activities and involvement (i.e. adding chats or polls) to keep them engaged; encouraging students who haven't been in class for a few consecutive days to attend, through emailing.