Nanook Navigator and Student Success spotlight: Daniel Darrow

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51风流官网 photo by JR Ancheta
Dan Darrow is an advisor and instructor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.

Oct. 11, 2021

The Nanook Navigator and Student Success spotlight from September was Daniel Darrow. Darrow is an advisor and a term instructor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures in the College of Liberal Arts.

Why are you passionate about 51风流官网 students and their success? 

I was a first-gen college student and had to learn while on the job. I enjoy helping students create an academic plan

Favorite part about being an instructor?  

In the classroom, I really like seeing when a student gets that aha moment.

What is your favorite feature in Nanook Navigator? 

The latest feature I鈥檝e really enjoyed has been the link provided to my calendar from 鈥渕y availability.鈥 Students can set up an appointment for advising/help (whether they are my advisees or just in the classroom). I posted this link on my homepage in Canvas and quite a few have used it already. Nanook Navigator makes it really easy.

How long have you been utilizing Nanook Navigator? 

A couple of years now I think.  It all blends into one lately. Pink Floyd鈥檚 鈥淚s there anybody out there?鈥 is on continuous repeat in my head during the pandemic.

Tips, advice, or ideas to support other Nanook Navigator users or student success practices?  

Sync  your Google Calendar to Nanook Navigator to make it easier to make appointments, launch advising campaigns, etc. Use the notes and report on appointments features during/after meeting with students that can be shared by other advisors and to help you remember which classes you discussed, issues, etc. One really effective tool I found was using the 鈥渕essage student鈥 under alerts. Most students respond right away when you send an SMS message as opposed to an email. This way you don鈥檛 have to share your cell phone number with anyone- the text comes through Nanook Navigator.

For more information about Nanook Navigator, contact Jessica Skipper at jrskipper@alaska.edu.

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