Important learning concepts
- It’s important to create a trusting and open environment from the beginning
- Use opportunities for introductions and ongoing social interaction in the course, even when its asynchronous
- Set norms for online interactions from the start
- Be really, really clear.
What’s my rationale?
- I will definitely use an introduction forum so that people can get to know one another. This will help people feel more at home and welcome in the course, and let them feel a part of the online learning community.
- I will make sure I make a video that includes a short tour around the course, and sets out expectations for learning and for interpersonal interactions between me and the students, and between student to student, so that people are clear from the start on what is expected.
2-3 goals to achieve for social presence
- Students are clear from the first time they log in about expectations from me about their behaviour, their progression through the course and their ability to interact with other students. I will do this through an introduction, a forum, a video, and a biography of myself, with my dog of course, and a short cheat sheet on what the course will be like.
- Students can find and understand a late policy document. I’ll post this in the course outline section.