Content
- Online spaces can feel unwelcoming
- Make students feel welcome in a digital space
- Action: Create a one-minute welcome video
Online spaces can feel unwelcoming
While many students feel at home in a digital environment, we have to remember that an online virtual learning environment (VLE) isn’t a natural digital space where people gather, socialise and learn from one another. It’s up to educators to invite students into these communities and lay out some ways in which they can participate.
Here are some common obstacles students face when entering an online environment:
- Confusing navigation: unclear navigation of module content, activities, discussion areas, feedback and resources
- No clear call to action: unless the next desired action is clear to learners, some won’t take any action at all
- Privacy concerns: For various reasons, including serious concerns about personal safety, students may feel reluctant to put themselves “out there” in an online space – even in a closed learning environment
Make students feel welcome in a digital space
Transform how students feel about their online space by taking simple steps to:
Make digital spaces more human. In a physical classroom you might arrive early, greet people by name, make small talk, ask individuals how they’re getting on, respond to every contribution and thank people for their participation. Online we can make similar human connections through conversations with individuals and using platform features to highlight the contributions from individual students in your online learning space. (See Express yourself)
Encourage respectful, meaningful contribution. Set the tone of the online learning space – this can be done through a statement on how you expect students to behave and treat one another online, and by modelling this behaviour yourself. This statement would also be where you set expectations for how and when students should contribute. (See Design participation and Communicate clearly)
Draw attention to next steps. Don’t assume people will always understand what they should do next, even if you’ve carefully structured the content of the module. Draw attention to the next reading or assignment at the right time. This gives those who are feeling lost a chance to feel like they’re on the same page as their peers. Try to avoid calling attention to 5 things at once. The clearer and simpler the next call to action is, the more students will respond. (See Bring your content to life and Communicate clearly)
Action: Make a one-minute welcome video
Marketing research shows that video has a far higher engagement rate than text+image or text only posts on social media. Whatever way we learn best, video has the power to capture attention, make connections and express personality.
For this exercise record a one-minute video of yourself welcoming students to your module. No one is expecting a professional production – all you need a laptop or smartphone and a quiet room with lots of natural lighting.
In the video, you should cover
- Who you are in a sentence or two
- Why you’re excited about teaching this module
- Expectations for participation
- Expectations for conduct online (respect one another, no abusive language or thoughtless criticism)
- What they should do now (for example, introduce themselves in the class discussion space)
Then upload your video to the digital space
In Moodle:
- In the module area, click on “Discussion”
- Click on the link for “Posting to General Discussion”
- Click “Add a new discussion topic”
- Create a new topic called “Welcome” or similar, attach your video, select “Pinned” and click “Post to Forum”
In Aula:
- In the module area, click on “Feed”
- Create a new post by describing your video and clicking the + and select “File”
- Attach your video and click “Post”
- Highlight your post by clicking the menu for that post in the top-right corner and select “Make important”
And you’re done! By taking the time to introduce yourself and set expectations from students, you’ve made a huge difference to how they will think and feel about their online space.
