Using Human Touch to Engage Online

Students

John Thompson, PhD

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Bio• Associate Professor Emeritus in Ed Tech • Taught over 100 online courses since 2000• Former K-12 classroom teacher, curriculum

coordinator, principal & school superintendent• Functioned as director of training for two state

gov’ts• Training & consulting - Global Learning Institute,

Inc.

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What Works – Top 1010. Provide safe, comfortable environment 9. Establish rapport early on 8. “Have a question or problem?” discussion 7. Mandate minimum participation 6. Require posts by 4-5th day 5. Maintain focus 4. Provide choices 3. “Incentify” participation 2. Have active instructor presence 1. Human touch

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Human Touch

• “High tech. High touch.” o John Naisbitt, Megatrends (1982)

• Today … We need Online Human Touch.

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“Students do not care how much their instructors know until the students know how much their instructors care.”

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Caring• Jones (2010) found that academic caring was the

number one predictor of online instructor ratings(see http://tinyurl.com/8bhhy3c)

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Empathy• Discussion post

Hi John,

First, I must thank you for your invitation to inform you when I will not be in an area where I have Internet connection. That was very kind of you and much appreciated. Thank you so much!

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• Email exchange

Student:Hi John,I wanted to let you know that I am plugging away on my work, but that this past week has been a complete fluke/ wash/ etc. We had loggers near the house, all week, taking a LOT of trees down, to clear them of the power line.…

Me: Ouch. No problem if you need an extra day or two. It's been pretty stressful here, too.

Student: Sorry, I know I'm not the only one. I struggle a bit when things get chaotic and I appreciate the understanding - thank you! Will still try and get everything done on time!

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Connection

• Online instructor sent hot chocolate and popcorn to her online students one winter week. They logged onto an Internet site to watch a streamed movie together.

• Drexel University invites its online students to attend an online Virtual Tea Orientation as part of the Online First-Year Experience using a Web conferencing program. Students receive a packet of tea with their mailed invitations.

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Communications• “I appreciate how Dr. T introduced himself and

kept me informed of the class before we even started. I received emails informing me of things I could do prior to start up in Angel.”

• “I also like that everything we need to do is explained in great detail and that any confusion is quickly clarified. It's easy for miscommunications to occur when a class is all online, so erring on the side of over-explaining and over-reminding is definitely better than the alternative.”

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Presence• “I think a constant presence as the instructor

is key to our success. Thank you for being so diligent about reading all of our posts and responding to so many!”

• “I have to say that I agree the Dr. T is extremely active in this course. I too have taken online courses where the teacher barely talks or updates the students on activities and assignments due. It's excellent to have a teacher who participates and is constantly keeping in touch with the students.”

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ResearchOrso and Doolittle (2011) asked students in 27 sections of community college online psychology courses to name three characteristics of an outstanding online teacher. Results of the 624 responses:

• Communication/availability: 66%• Compassion: 58%• Organization: 58%• Feedback: 45%• Instructor personal information: 18%http://tinyurl.com/6odwbrl

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… Suggestions• Refer to students by name • Resist quick reactions - watch your word choice• Come alive w/ audiovisual – e.g., Voki.com,

Present.me, xtranormal.com• Share – e.g., family health issues…• Humor – emoticons • Be nice

o “The one thing that stood out the most was that our opinions mattered and Professor Thompson was very available and considerate. I have never met him in person but he is nicer and more available to me than the professors I see every day.”

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… Relationships• It all comes down to relationships

• Difference between a good teacher and a great teacher? - ability to build relationships with students

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Q&A• Questions?• Suggestions?• Comments?

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Presenter

John Thompson, PhDAssociate Professor Emeritus

Computer Information Systems DepartmentBuffalo State College

716.860.0341 cellphonethompsjt@buffalostate.edu