We have all been there: sitting alone with a microphone, narrating slide after slide, wondering whether our students feel a connection to the person behind the screen. In online pedagogy, research tells us that social factors such as instructor presence are a key driver of
Online instructors often worry that strong teaching presence requires constant availability—rapid responses, frequent check-ins, and an always-on posture that quickly leads to burnout. In asynchronous courses, especially, presence can feel like a time-intensive commitment layered on top of an already full workload.
Every teacher wants to have energetic classes where students are involved in their learning, a goal that is often elusive as classes turn into “stand and deliver” lectures. But AI now makes it easy to add interactivity to material and classes. Best of all, these
Nearly all educational apps have incorporated AI in some way to enhance their functionality, and many new educational AI apps have emerged over the past year. This plethora of choices can leave teachers bewildered as to what to choose, but now we are starting to
E-learning literature and research strongly suggest that online instructors should build their presence into a successful asynchronous course. Many faculty, however, often assume that replicating in-person presence requires a talking-head video in every module. Richard Mayer’s (2005) 12 principles for multimedia learning cast doubt on
Online teaching inherently involves technology. It is part of the deal. But all too often, technology can make us feel more distant from our students. It can be a barrier preventing connection instead of a tool to facilitate connection. If you have ever faced a
Every day, educators encounter the challenge of assisting students in remaining engaged, demonstrating progress, and mastering the curriculum. What strategies can they employ to achieve this? The use of Mastery Paths is a feature in Canvas that allows instructors to customize the learning material to
Storytelling is one of the most powerful means of communication as it can captivate the audience, improving retention of the information. It also offers students a means to apply what they learn to real life. Instead of writing a research paper on a historical event,
The use of AI in higher education is growing, but many faculty members are still looking for ways to integrate it into their instruction. Here are three strategies we’ve used to incorporate AI—in grading, student artwork development, and online discussions—that can benefit both faculty and
When I first began teaching online, I thought creating engaging and relevant content was the biggest challenge. And while that’s certainly important, I’ve realized that organizing and communicating expectations to students is at least as critical. One simple strategy that has profoundly changed how I
