Reaching out
Online courses depend on you the instructor to reach across the sceen and make the course relevant to each student
June... I do believe that students want and need to feel a bit of the personal touch.
I love online and believe in the value of the modality. Yet there is a potential of disconnect. As instructors, we need to look for ways to make that connection.
One way is to have an introduction post of ourselves and have each student introduce themselves. Then we are aware of specifics about them and can reference them through the term.
Also, in smaller classes, I will make the offer for students to let me call them on the phone and talk with them for a few moments. A five or ten minute conversation can go a long ways as they hear your voice.
june,
Not just to the whole class, but to each student.....good post!
Shelly Crider
