Connecting with students in online courses can present unique challenges, and students may find themselves feeling isolated at times. Even if your course has live sessions, the absence of in-person interactions can lead to frustration and low motivation. With a bit of extra planning, though, you can create a positive, engaging experience. Here are five simple ways to boost your presence and help students feel connected all semester long.
5 Steps: Instructor Presence
1. Plan Your Communications
Effective communication is essential for fostering strong instructor presence and enhancing online student engagement. Support student persistence and success with course announcements that highlight insightful student work, feedback that addresses individual student needs, and strategically timed messaging.
Recommended Tools
- ICON Announcements
- ICON Inbox
Practical Tips
- Include a “shout out” acknowledging insightful student discussion posts in your weekly announcements.
- Ensure students know the communication channels you will be using for the course (i.e.: ICON Inbox vs. Outlook Email).
Discover how Willow Fuchs, Business Reference & Instruction Librarian, used a course communication plan to thoughtfully consider when and how she interacts with students. Read about her experience, including how periodically reflecting on initial plans helped refine her approach.
2. Record a Video Introduction
Welcome students to the course by introducing yourself as a real person. Consider recording in a location that reflects something about who you are (e.g., record a video of yourself in your garden, at the library, or with your dog on the couch). Humanize the online learning experience by ensuring students know who you are and why you care about what you do.
Recommended Tools
- UICapture (Panopto)
- ICON Course Homepage
Practical Tips
- Keep it short.
- Highlight the skills that students will leave your course with.
3. Infuse Your Personality into Course Materials
Your excitement and passion for course topics is contagious. Infuse your unique interests and personality into course materials to make course content more relevant and increase students' comfort approaching you with important concerns. Consider using a somewhat informal or conversational tone in your syllabus. Include a personal bio and anecdotes or links to thought-provoking resources throughout your course.
Recommended Tools
- UICapture
- ICON Syllabus
Practical Tips
- Record a quick UICapture video to share experiences from your professional life, or well-known stories in your discipline.
- Use the ICON Syllabus link in your course navigation to create an engaging and media-rich syllabus.
4. Respond Promptly to Student Questions
In a face-to-face course students regularly ask questions during or after class. Online, students may become frustrated or disengaged if you are perceived to be unavailable to them. Address this proactively by sharing your typical response time, communication preferences, and by frequently checking for student messages.
Recommended Tools
- ICON Inbox
- Zoom
Practical Tips
- Ask students to tell you how they attempted to answer their question before reaching out (i.e.: read the syllabus policies).
- Make it a discussion:
- Build in additional ways to interact during weeks that you know students often struggle.
- Offer an optional synchronous meeting in addition to your regular office hours. Allow students to post questions to an ICON Discussion in preparation for the meeting. Consider recording the meeting to share lessons learned with students unable to attend.
5. Participate in Discussions and Model Course Norms
Your replies to student Discussion posts have multiple positive effects. They model expectations for student interaction and guide learning through follow-up questions that address common misconceptions. In addition to announcements and video-based communications, online discussions are one more way to show students that you care for and support their learning, instilling trust in you as their instructor.
Recommended Tools
- ICON Discussions
- Microsoft Whiteboard
Practical Tips
- Gradually decrease the amount of discussion replies you post during the semester to encourage students to take more ownership. Make sure to inform students about your approach.
- Use a whiteboard for media-rich discussions, brainstorming, and sharing relevant resources from student research. Create a template to guide student brainstorming and decision-making.
Take the next step: Talk with DOE to learn more about integrating a new idea or approach to teaching and learning in the online classroom.