Kim Beeler

It is important to establish a rapport with students, the first day; it definitely sets the tone for the course.   Being clear about expectations and the plan for learning is calming to the students as they plan for success.  I like the priority on connecting students with each other through purposeful activities.  Once they feel like they belong, students will be more successful and more at ease in class. A nice balance of clearly stated and written expectations with boundaries along side relationship building and personal connection is the key to a productive and successful class dynamic.

Coming in early is a great idea to start developing rapport with students.  Definitely be very prepared so you have time to deal with last minute issues.  The syllabus you write has expectations of students; students need to see that you are holding yourself to expectations as well.

Preparation is key to showing students your level of commitment and your expectation of their commitment.  Taking the time to make the content fun and engaging will support retention.  The more senses you can involve the better chance of students remembering the content.  Encourage collaboration as well as responsibility for learning.  Guide students towards expectations by modeling professionalism and a devoted work ethic.

Getting ahead of any frustration or building conflict within the course is important for student retention and a cohesive learning environment for all students. Building relationships with each student is key to  prevention of conflicts.  Holding a boundary as well as showing care and concern & support are what students need so they can succeed. Handling conflicts privately is best.  However, online, in the moment is challenging. The instructor has to remember the course benefit to all students and not let the loudest student take the time away from others. 

Asynchronous and Synchronous learning does offer different environments for students to express themselves. Considering the different learning styles, it is best to slowly investigate how each learner exceeds.  Small group discussions are important with reporting out of summary statements.  The most important focus of online learning is for the instructor to figure out how to provide motivational feedback to each student and meet them where they are at. 

Building relationships is important from Day #1.  I believe students will work harder and be more invested if they feel cared about in a genuine way.  I like the idea of connecting personally with each student connecting to their Bio's.  With this connection, students will feel more comfortable expressing their needs before they feel frustrated. 

The summary of the course content so far is a balance of being prepared and organized as well as providing opportunities to build relationships with students so they feel included and prioritized as well as cared for.  I believe when a student feels cared about, they excel.