Bob,
There are no methodologies within the online environment, which would allow an instructor to see and feel.
The online environment is a one-dimensional stage. The difficulty is similar to being blind while communicating to strangers. Within an on-ground class, you can see the student and gauge their responses. The challenge for an online instructor is that he/she cannot see the student. Therefore, the instructor must use his/her voice as a tool to capture and engage; voice inflections to capture the audience.
You should listen to a radio announcer and ask yourself, what makes one announcer better that another. You should use your voice as a tool; it should not matter if you have ten students signed or no student signed on. You must be engaging. When an announcer speaks on the radio or television, there are no concerns as to how many people are listening, that announcer is using his/her voice to deliver the message.
You should call out students by name, using them within your scenario.
For example, I would say, “Bob, did you see that… if you were on patrol and observed a vehicle disregard a stop sign, would you write that ticket if it was your classmate?” I would call out to another student and ask why? This is all done with voice/tone variations.
Online teaching is more than just talking; it is using your voice as a tool to capture the audience.
