Let it be known your there.
Again as a former online student I remember how it was to know the teacher was present. Although they might have not been logged in at the time I was I could see they had been there and made discussions and answered the other students. This was important to me and I will remember this for my students. Although it makes me wonder what the hours were and if the had timed release messages .. LOL
Katie,
I have an “open door†policy where students are always encouraged to contact me whenever questions arise. I have AIM and check my e-mail regularly. Also, if the student prefers to talk, I have no problem speaking with them on the phone.
Jennifer,
Well put. I figured I better respond to this post or I would be guilty of this as well :-)
Herbert Brown III
I agree as I was also an online student at one time. The instructors that never participated in forums baffled me. I would like to add that although we may not have the ability to respond to each student every week, be sure you vary who you respond to each week. I once went an entire term with accidentally not responding to a particular student's forum posts...ever. In my defense, they typically posted late, but it still made a difference in my instructor review and I felt very badly when I realized I never responded to his comments.
