"8 Lessons Learned...." Video Review

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1. High-Touch is more important that High-tech.
   It is suggested to use the telephone to reach out to students so they are more aware that a real person is behind teaching their course and helping them move towards success in the course. What are other ways we can use this at CPCC? For those of us with office phones, set-up specific office hours to meet students face-to-face and take time to respond to student phone calls. Alternately, offer virtual office hours with tools such as Webex or Google Voice. Did you know CPCC offers tutoring on campus too? Point your students to the Academic Learning Center.​
    

2. Establish Social Presence Using Digital Story-Telling.
   A student can more easily get to know the mannerisms and expectations of their Professor in a face-to-face class. So, in a CPCC online class, how can you offer a better social presence that encourages instructor to student engagement and student to student enagagement? One way is to record an introduction with Panopto, rather than type one. Students can then acquaint their course with a real person. Other options include interesting introduction forums that discuss more interesting things than "your name, degree and why you chose this class". Use digital storytelling tools, audio narration or weekly announcements that encourage students to 'check-in' with their class.
    

3. Use Technology Intentionally.
   There is a huge variety of free and paid-for software programs that add variety to course content. At CPCC, do you know who to contact to assist you with the organization of relevant tools? eLearning staff can suggest tools that are of value to your course development and will help learners achieve desired outcomes.​
    

4. The Power of External Resources. 
   You don't have to write all your own material. There are companies offering interactive lessons and ebooks that integrate with LMS platforms at CPCC. Walking through your options with CPCC ITS will enable you to decide on supplemental material that will enhance your courses. Additionally, modeling and teaching good research habits on the internet will enable you and your students to find relevant material that supports course objectives.​
    

5. Make Your Expectations Explicit.
   A course design and development plan, before the course begins, will result in positive experiences for you and for your students. At CPCC, we offer a Quality Course Standards Checklist that includes items for you to consider when developing your online course. If students know what they need to do, when to turn it in, and the instructions are clear, students will take ownership of their time and successful completion of the work.​
    

6. Fun, Playfulness and the Unexpected.
   Students learn best with consistency, but need to be jolted and re-engaged with something different once in awhile. CPCC faculty are selectively chosen and each have very creative ideas to share. CPCC has a Learning College Showcase offered each Spring, full of presentations from a variety of speakers who share their knowledge and teaching strategies. Their ideas make fresh additions to classes.​
    

7. Login Regularly.
   There is no magic number for how many times an instructor must login to their online course. But logging in regularly assures students they are not left to their own devices to get through a course. And, logging in regularly means your course is well-managed. Consider the lessons and assignments you teach at CPCC. How often do you expect a CPCC student to login to their course and fulfill them? Research has shown that if you set the bar for your login times right at the beginning of the course, students will become accustomed to that time period and begin to work around that same time schedule. Your login acts as a model to their login.​​
    

8. Personal Feedback.
   What can you offer CPCC students other than a course of interesting content? Offer them a variety of assessments that are appropriate, clear and relevant to their success. Enhance student satisfaction by giving feedback that is meaningful to each student. Afterall, they chose YOUR class.

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