Best Practices
Some of my best practices in the online learning environments is to ensure that all of my students speak with me. Reading a BIO and hearing my voice makes a big difference and it ties the BIO to a real person. Students have often complained to me that in an online learning environment that they feel as if they are talking to a computer and not a person most times because they seldomly have the opportunity to speak with the professor.
Another best practice of mine is to provide screen recordings to help students understand materials presented and to give effective and timely feedback with real comments and not canned responses.
Thank you for sharing, Cynthia!
Great post! No canned responces is an excellent point!! Put the shoe on the other foot and think about the type of feedback we would want if we were the student. ;)
In addition to what you have shared, I post a "fun" picture of me with one of my dogs and ask them to feel free to share a picture of them doing an activity they enjoy, or of them and their family, etc. When we begin a class by getting to know one another this way, students are more inclined to feel comfortable reaching out and asking for assistance, clarification, etc. :)
