Reviewing and summarizing to start and end the session is a good method to create a non-threatening environment. When students have a choice, they are motivated to engage in learning. 

I learned that cognitive, socially interactive, and psychomotor elements can help create an engaging course. 

Keeping confidentiality of student communication is important. Students may need counseling, however responding to student emails should be done with caution in the choice of wording, tone, and purpose. 

It is important to establish credibility by projecting your presence. One of my initial announcements is the Instructor Introduction where students can read my academic credentials, educational experience and background, as well as get a bit of insights into my personal life. 

This training led me to reflect on engaging students in class discussions in a synchronous session. While it is important to learn the technical components, posting assignments, discussions, and more, synchronous engagement can be challenging. I use online tools and apps such as Padlet, Google Forms, Chat, Breakout Rooms in Zoom to engage students in peer discussions and idea sharing. I have realized that many students experience anxiety in unmuting and speaking online, while some may dominate the verbal exchange. For this reason, a variety of tools are necessary to increase engagement. In my next class, I am planning to… >>>