This session focuses on the relationship between faculty presence and engagement in the online learning environment. In a face-to-face classroom, the physical space provides a sense of belonging. You go into a room and you physically see and interact with the space and those in it. In the online classroom, that sense of belonging has to be facilitated in creative ways. Studies show that students who are more socially connected and engaged with their peers and their instructor in the classroom tend to perform better. It is necessary that we find ways to humanize the online learning environment in a way that fulfills this need while still honoring the benefits of the online learning platform.
This session focuses on the relationship between faculty presence and engagement in the online learning environment. In a face-to-face classroom, the physical space provides a sense of belonging. You go into a room and you physically see and interact with the space and those in it. In the online classroom, that sense of belonging has to be facilitated in creative ways. Studies show that students who are more socially connected and engaged with their peers and their instructor in the classroom tend to perform better. It is necessary that we find ways to humanize the online learning environment in a way that fulfills this need while still honoring the benefits of the online learning platform.
In the session, we will present data on student perceptions of online engagement strategies and allow participants to process and reflect on some of the more surprising findings. Strategies that meet the needs of the instructor do not always prove effective for students. We will also introduce the 5 C’s of Humanizing the Learning Experience originally published by Faculty Focus and explore how these elements can positively influence the student experience. We will ask participants to consider the student perception as well as the 5 Cs’s and brainstorm new ideas to promote more impactful engagement. We will then lead participants to recognize the importance of instructor presence as a foundation for effective engagement and explore actions that serve to intentionally build a strong online faculty presence before students even enter the classroom.
Participants will explore ways to create instructor presence in the initial online course setup including elements such as the instructor bio, course policies and student expectations, announcements for students, and contact information. Participants will leave the session with a deeper understanding of instructor presence and engagement, and ideas to implement in their next online course or training.
Level of Participation:
To begin the session, the presenters will share information about what it means to be present in the online class compared to engaging. The presenters will share examples and observations gathered from their institution, and will then open the discussion to participants to further explore these topics, implementation, challenges, and innovations.
Session Goals:
Attendees will participate in a discussion surrounding how instructor presence impacts overall engagement in the course as well as strategies for creating a strong instructor presence in the online classroom. Participants will leave the session with a deeper understanding of instructor presence vs engagement, and ideas to implement in their next online course or training.