Despite a return to in-person classes post-pandemic, over half of college students took at least one online course in 2022. Online classes appeal to students for a range of reasons; notably, online courses offer flexibility for both students who have family and/or job obligations that prevent them from attending class, as well as for students with diverse learning styles. Distance education doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
For many of you, this may fill you with a sense of dread. You may lament a lack of face time with your students or feel anxious about how to structure an online course in a way that facilitates learning. You are not alone.
In “We Still Think Online Teaching Isn’t Real Teaching,” Flower Darby addresses student and faculty frustrations with online courses. Darby writes that “Too many of us [instructors] are not ‘there’ in our asynchronous courses even though we know that instructor presence is critical to online student success.”
From a student’s perspective, this absence can increase feelings of isolation and anxiety, or perhaps even lead some to question why they should engage in the course at all. Darby goes on to talk about why faculty may be less present in online courses (most notably, the burden of meeting requirements that seem to reduce online teaching to a number of hoops through which to jump). Ultimately, though, she argues that we can bring joy back to teaching online by finding ways to connect meaningfully with our online students.
So what can you do?
- Structure your course. In an in-person class, you have regular opportunities to guide your students, answer impromptu questions, and help them see what they should be doing and why. In an asynchronous course, your Canvas site is the only guide students have. Including elements such as clear learning objectives, a “Start Here” page that tells students expectations and how to get started, and modules that guide them through the semester in a clear path will really make a difference.
- Build in ways to engage. Think about ways for students to engage with the course content, you, and one another on a regular basis.
- Be present and personal. To combat student isolation and promote engagement, it’s critical to show students that you are there. For instance, you might add a welcome video to your course homepage, provide feedback by recording your comments in Canvas Speedgrader, or host regular synchronous Zoom drop by hours. The more your students see your face and hear your voice, the more they will feel you are present.
Need Help Getting Started?
You don’t have to do any of this alone! Consider attending any/all of the webinars in the CITL’s upcoming Online Course Design and Delivery workshop series for more best practices to engage your students from a distance.
You can register for the events here:
Online Course Design Series:
- Designing Learner-Centered Online Courses (February 4, 10-11am)
- Making Your Online Course Accessible (February 11, 10-11am)
- Getting the Most Out of Canvas: Tips and Tricks to Save Time and Help Students (February 18, 10-11am)
- Creating Online Activities: Challenges and Opportunities (February 25, 10-11am)
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