Starting the Quarter Off in Your Online Class

The first two weeks in any class is important to set the tone for the quarter, but in an online class, they are especially important.  Students often come into an online class feeling a little bit unsure and alone in the experience.  During the first two weeks it is important to make a personal connection with the students and engage them in conversation.  Students need to feel like they are learning with other people and not just learning from a computer (which is boring and lonely).

I’ve put together my top ten list of ideas that might help you to connect with your students at the beginning of the quarter.  If you have other ideas you’d like to add to the discussion, please share them in the comments.

1. Post a welcome message to the students in the course announcements area which introduces them to the class, how to contact you and let’s them know what they need to do to get started.
2. Send each student a personal message or e-mail asking them how they are and if they have any questions about the course.
3. Try and set up an appointment with each student to talk to them by phone sometime in the first two weeks of class.  A short phone conversation can go a long way towards establishing a good relationship with a student and making them feel comfortable approaching you with questions.
4. Respond to students within 24 hours.  Nothing turns a student away from an online class like feeling they are not getting adequate attention and feedback from an instructor.  The faster you can respond to students, the more likely they will be to come to you with questions.
5. Share a little bit about yourself.  Post some pictures or share a story.  You could even post a video or audio welcome message.  Do something to let students feel like they know you a little bit so it is easier for them to connect.
6. Report students who are not logging in or participating after the first week.  If you let me know, I can forward this information to retention staff or site coordinators who will be better able to contact students and help them get started.
7. Write in a conversational style on your class page.  When writing announcements or messages to students, avoid using academic jargon or formal language.  You can do that in other parts of the class if you want.  Use these tools as a way to have a conversation with students in the same voice you would if you were talking to them in the hallway after class.
8. Post regular announcements to guide students and keep them on track.  Each week at the beginning of the week it is a good idea to post a message to the course announcements outlining the activities for the week, letting them know what the expectations are, and introducing the topic.
9. Try to send short messages or reminders every week in addition to the more formal weekly announcements to maintain a presence in the class.  This is especially good practice if you are not participating regularly in discussion forums.  Send quick messages with a thought about the class or something new you found on the web.  Maybe you could send a link to something in the news, a cartoon or funny video on YouTube that relates to the class somehow.  The idea is to continuously remind students they are in the class and engage them in continuous conversation.
10. Try to have fun.  It’s difficult to add humor in an online class and the same jokes you use in the face to face classroom don’t usually translate online.  It’s important, though, to try and engage the class in some type of fun activities or share some funny stories.  A little bit of entertainment doesn’t hurt and can help make your class a more inviting and enjoyable place.