I learned that my presence in a virtual classroom is just as important as a traditional classroom. The Introduction Discussion is a great place to give my credentials and let my students know a little about my personal life. When I'm providing feedback for the weekly discussions and assignments, I refer back to this to remind myself about nicknames they might use or the field of study they are going into. It's the little, personal touches and specific feedback will help to engage students in the course. Being active in the course and discussions is important. Since online learning doesn't use a traditional classroom, the discussions are a great place for my students to interact with their classmates.
