ecree is an online tool, available to all students enrolled in SPHG 713. It provides automatic real-time feedback on writing assignments.
Getting started
You’ll need to go through four steps to use ecree for writing assignments:
- Access your ecree account
Visit https://www.ecree.com/signup and either enter the password you received in email or click “forgot password?” to reset your password. - Create an enrollment token per section of your course
Click on the name of your course and select “Class Token” on the drop down menu. Copy the class token.
- Share the enrollment token for each section with students in that section
a. Residential MPH and MPH Asheville instructors: Share in class and send out via Sakai announcements or email with instructions for how to use ecree
b. MPH@UNC instructors: Email students and post to the course wall with instructions for how to use ecree - Grade assignments in the LMS
Students should use ecree to improve the writing in their drafts and submit their final version in the learning management system for your course. You will grade student submissions in the assignment tool in the LMS.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use ecree?
You simply provide the enrollment token and share instructions and a recommendation to students to use ecree to improve their writing. You’re not expected to review student writing samples in ecree. You can choose to add assignments to your course any time you wish. Instructions for adding assignments are available by logging into ecree and using the drop-down menu with your name on it on the top right of the screen.
How do I get help?
Contact ecree using the “help” portion of your account. Ecree will respond within 24 hours. Ecree also has support documentation and videos for you to use. Access support documentation by logging into ecree and using the drop-down menu with your name on it on the top right of the screen.
Why should students use ecree?
Real-time feedback and practice are two foundations for improving writing quality. Students who use ecree get immediate instructor-quality feedback on their writing every time they use ecree. This leads to better drafts, higher scores, and significantly fewer dropped courses.
How do students use ecree?
Once students have an account and enroll in your course with the course token, they can write or upload and edit writing assignments to get feedback on writing (not content) from ecree. They can edit as much as they wish in the system and then should download their final version and upload that final version to the appropriate assignment in their LMS (Sakai or 2CH).
What kind of feedback do students get when they use ecree?
Students get feedback on their writing skill, which is indicated by green (good), yellow, and red (very problematic) comments. Often, feedback is accompanied by a short video about that writing skill. A screenshot of the feedback ecree provides to students is below:
How long do students have an ecree account?
UNC Gillings pays for all students in SPHG 713 to have an account during the term they take this course. Afterward, students may choose to continue paying a monthly or yearly fee for ecree and can use it with any writing assignment they choose. The student FAQs have instructions for how to continue using ecree after their first term.
Is using ecree required?
No. Using ecree is completely optional (but strongly recommended) for students.
If a student submits their essay in ecree, can I see it?
Yes, but this submission isn’t in a place where you can grade it for your course. Students need to submit their writing assignments for grading in the appropriate assignment in your learning management system. There is a “download” (as .docx) button for students to get a copy of their draft to upload and submit in your course’s learning management system.
