communicating with online learners

UM3D Ignite Series:

Center for Innovative

Teaching and Learning

Communicating with Online Learners

In this session, we will discuss basic

principles for maintaining a virtual presence

as an online

instructor.

Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning

memphis.edu/instructionalimpact

Session Objective

Dimensions of Instructor Presence



Persona Social Instructional

Consists of the

Instructor’s

personality, teaching

style and personal

interests.

Refers to the

connections made

instructor to learners

and learner to learner.

Consists of the role

the instructor plays in

guiding the learners in

the online

environment.

Maintaining Persona



Persona and how often it is displayed can seek to positively

affect a learner’s impression of the instructor. To maintain

personal presence in your online course, consider doing the

following regularly:

• Text or media updates

• Personal photos or artifacts embedded in course

• Temperature checks


Maintaining Social Presence



Making social connections is difficult in an online learning

environment. The instructor is responsible for creating the

goals and guidelines for communication in the course and

work with learners to build the virtual community. To build the

community:

• Create activities that help learners identify with the

group

• Initiate a trusting environment for communication

• Provide multiple opportunities for social expression


Maintaining Instructional Presence



Instructional presence begins with the design of the course. It

is created in the course plan and maintained during the

delivery of the course. Instructional presence is shown in :

• The design and organization of the course content

• The direct instruction provided during the delivery of

instructional items

• The facilitation of communication between instructor

and learner


Creating Instructor Presence



Course Tools to Use



Course Tool: Course News



Course NewsCreate news items that help communicate course updates,

changes to learners quickly and effectively.

http://mediasite.memphis.edu/Mediasite/Play/19cc057f670a4c9e97729202ab5c9d7e1d?catalog=0ad3133f-646f-44f8-b373-727095dbb98e&playFrom=11970&autoStart=true

http://mediasite.memphis.edu/Mediasite/Play/19cc057f670a4c9e97729202ab5c9d7e1d?catalog=0ad3133f-646f-44f8-b373-727095dbb98e&playFrom=11970&autoStart=true

Course Tool: Video Note



Video NoteCreate video recordings in eCourseware using your webcam and

insert them using the HTML Editor “Insert Stuff” option.

Course Tool: Add Audio



Add AudioCreate brief audio recordings in eCourseware using your

microphone and insert them as a welcome message or

assessment feedback.

Course Tool: Chat



Chat ToolThe eCourseware chat tool can be used to administer personal

and general chat sessions. Personal chats and private and

visible only to learner(s) added to the chat session. This option

would be great for virtual office hours. General chats are open to

all learners and can used as an alternative to a weekly

discussion.

Non Course Tools Options





Ensemble Video is a content

management system that allows

instructors to upload video files

and share them with their learners.

Mediasite is a presentation tool

that allows instructors to make

live digital recordings of lectures

or presentations.

Bluejeans is cloud-based video

conferencing service that connects

participants across a wide range of

devices and conferencing

platforms.



Screencast-o-matic is a site

that allows users to create

screen recordings using a

small applet.

YouTube is a video sharing

site that you can use to

upload content or retrieve

course related content.

Edublogs is an education

blogging site that can assist

with student and teacher

learning.

How will you create and maintain

instructor presence?



Resources



• "Communication in Online Courses: Strategies for Providing Feedback." Communication in Online

Courses: Strategies for Providing Feedback. Illinois Online Network, n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2015.

• Ely, Sabrina. "Elearn Magazine: Five Expectations Students Should Have of an Online Instructor."

ELearn Magazine, an ACM Publication. ELearn Magazine, Oct. 2011. Web. 05 Feb. 2015.

• Kelly, Rob. "Creating a Sense of Instructor Presence in the Online Classroom." Faculty Focus Creating a

Sense of Instructor Presence in the Online Classroom Comments. N.p., 07 Jan. 2014. Web. 05 Feb.

2015.

• Orso, Donald, PHd, and Joan Doolittle, MA. "Instructor Characteristics That Affect Online Student

Success." Faculty Focus Instructor Characteristics That Affect Online Student Success Comments. N.p.,

02 Nov. 2012. Web. 05 Feb. 2015.

• Venable, Melissa. "The 7 Cs of Effective Communication in Your Online Course." OnlineCollegeorg The

7 Cs of Effective Communication in Your Online Course Comments. N.p., 16 Sept. 2011. Web. 05 Feb.

2015.

• Wilcoxon, Kevin. "Building An Online Learning Community." Learning Solutions Magazine. Learning

Solutions Magazine, 3 Oct. 2011. Web. 05 Feb. 2015.

• Williams, George. "R.I.P. Google Calendar Appointments: Detailed Tutorial on Possible Replacement

YouCanBook.Me." ProfHacker RIP Google Calendar Appointments Detailed Tutorial on Possible

Replacement YouCanBookMe Comments. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 7 Jan. 2013. Web. 05

Feb. 2015.