You never get a second chance to make a great first impression!

First impressions are extremely important in online education. When a student logs into a course for the first time, it sets the stage for the rest of the course. According to recent research on technology and social presence, improved communication occurs between students and faculty when social presence is increased. Social presence also humanizes the online classroom experience for students (Frisby, Limperos, Record, Downs, Kercsmar, 2013).

One way of humanizing the online classroom is the inclusion of an introductory video. In a survey of students enrolled in either hybrid or fully online graduate education courses by Jones, Naugle & Koloff, (2008), it was noted that 87% of students valued having the opportunity to meet the instructor virtually by seeing their face as well as hearing the teacher’s voice via the introductory video. 

This interactive session will demonstrate how to effectively design and implement an introductory video into your online course using free video software and social presence.

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

1. Describe why the incorporation of an introductory video is critical to student success and satisfaction.

2. Apply strategies to humanize the online classroom experience for students.

3. Identify free video software to incorporate into the online classroom.

References:

Frisby, B. N., Limperos, A. M., Record, R. A., Downs, E., & Kercsmar, S. E. (2013). Students’ perceptions of social presence: Rhetorical and relational goals across three mediate instructional designs. MERLOT Journal of Online Teaching and Learning, 9(4), 468–480.

Jones, P., Naugle, K., & Kolloff, M. (2008). Teacher presence: Using introductory videos in online and hybrid courses. Learning Solutions Magazine.