Giving a course overview and introductions in a face-to-face environment always seemed easy. First class of the semester, everyone was there and eager or at least adrenalized to learn about the class, the instructor and their fellow students. Typically, I would spend the entire first class reviewing the course content, expectations and traps to avoid, not just with the material, but taking the class in general. Introduction began with myself and progressed with students talking a bit about themselves and why they were taking the class. Reticent students were brought out of their shell with a little give and take from me.
Online classes were naturally more difficult without the in-person interaction. Explanation about the course would typically have to be more detailed and done with the expectation that reinforcement of those details would be made a number of times in the first few weeks. Other than this past semester, which was a bit harried, as I came into the class on the third week, my last online teaching was 9 years prior at Mid Michigan College. The Moodle system was much less sophisticated, with limited options for posting content. Still, in my experience teaching (and my daytime profession), communication/interaction and to some degree, humor, was the most important tools to draw students out to make them feel welcome in the class, and enable them to become invested in participating. While my practice has been to pick and choose when and how I respond in forums during the semester, it was important early on, especially in the introduction, to welcome and comment on every student's first post.
Online classes were naturally more difficult without the in-person interaction. Explanation about the course would typically have to be more detailed and done with the expectation that reinforcement of those details would be made a number of times in the first few weeks. Other than this past semester, which was a bit harried, as I came into the class on the third week, my last online teaching was 9 years prior at Mid Michigan College. The Moodle system was much less sophisticated, with limited options for posting content. Still, in my experience teaching (and my daytime profession), communication/interaction and to some degree, humor, was the most important tools to draw students out to make them feel welcome in the class, and enable them to become invested in participating. While my practice has been to pick and choose when and how I respond in forums during the semester, it was important early on, especially in the introduction, to welcome and comment on every student's first post.