I recall when I was first asked to develop a course online; there were very few options available. In fact, I was using Notepad and html to design webpages that served as courses prior to coming into contact with an LMS. The first LMS I used was Jenzabar and it was for a small community college in Southeastern Kansas. The school was just embarking on using the LMS and was eager to try it out. I relied heavily on my course design strategies and course map tools so I could depend less on the technology, but the battle was there and it was brutal.
I know some of you are going through these pains with Heartland's transition to Canvas. However, we have provided you a pluthera of opportunities to get help and also added a new Embedded ID program - have you stopped by to see me yet? I've been working hard at making sure that I am present and available to support you on this journey - you are not alone.
Recently, I had a convsertation with a few faculty at Hearltand where they were inquring about how they can create opportunities that are engaging for their students online. I've been reflecting on my my first experiences with an LMS and also, my experiences as an online student. I've earned two of my degrees completely online and I felt engaged during the entire process. Reflecting on some of this and best practices, I've came up with my top FIVE ideas to foster an environment of engagement in your online course here at Heartland.
#1 - Be Present. Online presence is hard, I get that. But I'm here to tell you that students want to see YOU. They want to hear you, they want you to provide meaningful feedback to them. Being present takes a great deal of time and energy. Unlike F2F where you show up for one class and leave, Online is always "on", there is no off button because each students works at his/her own pace. You will find your rhythm and what works best for you. I started creating patterns in my day where my students would know what times of the day I would be commenting and active in the course. I also started recording short 1-2 minute video clips at the end of my day that highlighted what my other courses were doing and asking about their day. Being present and visible in your coures makes a difference in student learning and also in retention.
#2 - Be Authentic. Our role as faculty members goes beyond grading; we should be connecting with our students and building a community. It's okay to make mistakes. In fact, I tell my students that it's even OK to celebrate failure - this is when we learn the most. It doesn't have to be perfect or work everytime, this is just one way to share with students that we are real people and sometimes, life has other plans.
#3 - Be an Encourager. The only way students will react to you is if you provide opportunities to encourage them along the way. Yes, gradebook feedback is nice but it's not the only way we can praise students and encourage them on their jouney. Shipp (2019) introduce "Motivation Wednesday" whereas a video he recorded would get sent to students that reminded students of office hours and opportunities for help. Pulling in a tutor and interviewing them for 1-minute to share to your students would be a great motivator!
#4 - Be Resourceful. Multiple forms of instructional materials is appluaded and is best practice. Locate resources that are meaningful to students and most importantly, engaging. Outdated resources or resources that students can't relate to will not suffice. Look for trends and themes that relate to your subject matter to relate to your students with. Ask students for additional resources that they research. With the World Wide Web, we have an open door for resources - take advantage of Open Educational Resources and textbooks that costs pennies. Find instructional resources that are relevant to your students and they will have a deeper appreciation of your subject.
#5 - Be involved with the community. Some of the best practices I have encountered in an online environment are opportunities that engage learners with their own communities. Regardless of the discipline, look for project opportunities that can provide service learning opportunities to your students. Online students enjoy partipating in their communities - near and far - students enjoy making connections and applying their learning to real world, authentic learning experiences. Can't think of a project to include in your course? Bring the community to your course - provide case studies, interviews or syncrhonous opportunities for students to engage.
Regardless of whether you take one of these items into consideration or all of them, Quality Online Courses at Heartland is what we are striving for. Going beyond the classroom to reach our students and provide unqiue, meaningful opportunities for them to achieve their success is what we are here for.
As always, please email me wth questions!
~Anna
Resources:
Shipp, Jeremiah (2019) Faculty Focus. https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/online-course-encouragement/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork
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