Ensure your course reflects a diverse society and world
Welcome Students
Create a Welcome Video
Create a welcome message designed to calm student fears and let them know that you are “in this together” and ready to fully support their continued learning.
Create Q&A and social forums
Create a question-and-answer forum in which students can post general questions about the course and assignments. If you think it would be helpful, you can also create a social forum for students to connect with one another. Monitor the Q&A forum to ensure that correct information is being shared and to address any unanswered questions (Darby & Lang, 2019, p. 29).
Create an online orientation video
Create a video that takes your students on a tour of your course in the online environment. Try to include the following on your tour: (a) how to prepare for online learning, (b) directions for navigating the course, and (c) weekly communication expectations.
Online Teaching Toolkit
This tool covers everything from creating a welcome message, to monitoring Q&A forums.
How active should you be online? What boundaries can you set? This tool explains.
From ensuring your online course is clear and intuitive, to establishing a predictable rhythm – this tool helps you and your students navigate your online course with ease.
Providing discussion forum grading rubrics, assigning reflection activities, and giving strategic feedback are all covered in this tool.
This tool explains how to build short (6 minutes or less), instructor-produced videos that are informative, engaging and memorable.
How can you keep students engaged and focused online, while supporting their learning and helping them prioritize information? This tool explains.
