Student Engagement: Being "Present" in a Course

Article Type: General Information

Question: What does it mean to Be Present in a course?  What are some ways I can Be Present?

Answer: To "Be PRESENT" means to be available, personable, and engaged with students. 

• Along with your course content and your teaching expertise, being present leads to reaching all students through equitable teaching.

Here are some ways you can Be PRESENT in your course.

• Welcome Video:  Introduce yourself and the purpose and structure of your course.
• Student Hours:  I read an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education that stated how some students think "office hours" means the time during which the instructor should not be disturbed.  Explain to students the purpose of “student hours” and how this time can benefit them.
• Meet Your Instructor Widget:  Add a “Meet Your Instructor” widget to your course homepage.  Include your photo, email, office # and phone, student hours and a link to your Zoom room.
• Student Lounge:  Create a student-only discussion forum where students can interact with each other and discuss topics of interest.
• Q&A Discussion:  Create a discussion forum where students can post questions regarding all aspects of your course.  You and students can respond to questions about assignments, get help, or share ideas.
• Learner-Instructor Interaction:  Send weekly reminders or announcements.  Provide feedback on assignments and quizzes.  Setup discussions where communication is exchanged between you and students.
• Feedback:  Provide feedback that is constructive, timely, meaningful, and valuable.
• Learning Opportunities:  Attend webinars or training sessions where you can learn more creative ways to Be Present in your course.