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Building Online Presence Into Your Course

Types of Online Interactions

Establishing and maintaining regular effective interaction is an important aspect of delivering online and hybrid courses. It is a practice that encourages and facilitates student-centered instruction and increases student learning outcomes. The following are some examples of interactions you can design into your course before the start of the term, as well as some practices you can implement while the term is in session.

Jay Proffitt answers the question, "How important is Instructor Presence in an online course?"

 

Strategies

Before The Course Begins

  • Welcome Message - Create a welcoming introduction to the course and to yourself by creating a welcome page for your course. Let students know how you have organized the course and how to get started (begin by reading the syllabus and then go to Module 1)
  • Reach out early - emailing or posting a message to the class before the start date is a good idea. Just let the students know when they can expect the course to be published.
  • Syllabus - Develop a detailed road map for the course. Clearly explain major assessments and deadlines.
  • Set Expectations - Model course netiquette at the beginning of the quarter with instructor-guided introductions. Also outline and explain netiquette expectations in initial course documents.
  • Ask a Question Forum - Create a specific forum for questions regarding course assignments and procedures.
  • Course Homepage - If using a custom homepage, be sure it is welcoming and provides easy navigation to get started.
  • Phone/voicemail - Post contact information in your syllabus and indicate your preferences and availability.
  • Online Office Hours - Use Zoom or Microsoft Teams to set up a virtual meeting room for your students. 
  • Collaborative projects: Design assignments and projects that promote collaboration among students.
  • Academic Lectures: Pre-record some of your important lectures or presentations.
  • Podcasts/webinars/screencasts - Use these more informal tools to supplement your lecture material, or to explain how to complete individual skills or tasks.

While The Course is in Session

  • Course announcements - Send out weekly announcements that summarize content or student progress.
  • Personalized feedback - Use SpeedGrader or email to leave student-specific feedback on submissions.
  • Discussion boards - Reply to student posts, provide weekly summaries of the activity, or at least let students know you are there. Your reply also acts as a model reply for other students. Pose questions in the discussion boards which encourage various types of interaction and critical thinking skills among all course participants.
  • Canvas ZOOM - Use Zoom to hold synchronous meetings with your class or hold virtual office hours.
  • Messaging - Use Canvas to check in on students throughout the course and reply to their questions.
  • Nudge Students - Use the "message students who" function in Canvas to keep students on-track or sing their praises when they perform well.
  • Course Feedback - Ask students for feedback about the course regularly and revise content as needed. Don't just wait for the course evaluations at the end of the term.