In a world of instant content, the value of learning lives in how students think, apply, and transform understanding over time. The recent attention around tools
One conceptualization that may guide college instructors toward excellence in their teaching is that they should strive to bring PEACE to their classes. Beyond the
In today’s higher education landscape, many of us are navigating dual identities, teaching both online and in-person, often in the same term. While these environments may feel
Earlier in my teaching career, my first-day-of-class deck included a slide about my professional and personal history to build trust and transparency. I offered students
Could you run 100 miles? Or climb Mount Everest? Or pass college algebra online? These tasks might seem overwhelming and possibly insurmountable, yet with components
As the demand for online education surges, especially in the healthcare field, maintaining high standards and competencies should not falter because the delivery of education
As an instructor, I have always considered myself to be friendly and approachable. I assumed that students would come to me when they were experiencing
Checking on whether my students in a recent class were understanding some thorny content, I did a quick survey and was heartened to receive engaged
Due to the shift to performance-based funding in many states, colleges and universities have sharpened their focus on student retention. Because of this, I have sought out information about best practices in retaining students, in particular online students, to help do my fair share in this effort for the schools where I teach. While I found many articles about the importance of social presence, one of the more interesting discoveries was from a chapter in Trust in Organizations on the concept called “swift trust.” Although it is mostly put into practice and studied in workplace settings, it certainly applies to education, too.
Online students need to feel an instructor presence in their classes. Thorough explanations and effective communication help fulfill this need and can transform a mediocre online course into a great one—and it all starts with the syllabus.
