Expectations for Online Faculty Engagement

These practices provide a base level of engagement. Ideal practice goes above and beyond. Programs may offer additional strategies based on individual course content and approaches. Visit the Engagement Strategies that Work Collection. These strategies were shared by attendees of the Online Faculty Engagement Workshop.

If you would like to speak with an instructional designer in Instructional Design and Technology regarding your course, please email idt@regis.edu You can find support resources at idtregis.org

Respond to every introduction post - assuming your class has an introduction activity

Respond to each students’introduction to establish or nurture a relationship with each one. Introduction activities are not required, but across the sector they are considered a best practice

Sample Strategies

Post a video response to students’ introduction videos created in VoiceThread or posted in a discussion forum.
Make a specific comment on each students’ introduction during a recorded Zoom session. Post the link to the recording within WorldClass.
Post a reply to a student's WorldClass discussion forum post in which you make a personal connection to something they have said.

Post your own introduction in the student introduction activity

Students want to know who you are. Share as much as you are comfortable with, so they perceive you as a real person along with being a professional with expertise

Sample Strategies

Create a self-introduction video or narrated slide show in VoiceThread.
Create a self-introduction video using Zoom and post in an Announcement in WorldClass.
Create a text-based introduction in the Announcements or an Introduction Discussion Forum.

Instructors are visibly present to all students in the course on at least three different days each week, using methods determined to be the most appropriate to the course content. In addition, you are encouraged to be available (email) one day per weekend if you have weekend due dates.

Increase the level of faculty presence within an online course so that it meets the definition of substantive faculty engagement.

Sample Strategies

Communicate with the class via announcements, class discussions, screencasts, etc. to explain course content, etc.
You may choose certain days of the week not to be online (e.g., Sundays or weekends) and state those days clearly in the syllabus.
Interact with students in the discussion forum through threaded discussion postings and follow up to continue the conversation throughout the week.
Host virtual office hours with a specific focus.
Announce that you have posted the grades and feedback.
Respond to students’ emails within WorldClass.
Post a short content video in the content area. Reference this new resource in an Announcement.
Post an informal video regarding the content and a connection to Jesuit Values as a mid-week Announcement.
Participate in a learning activity such as a simulation, VoiceThread, or online debate.
Provide feedback on progress within team (group) projects.

Post a weekly announcement to introduce the upcoming content.

Introduce the focus for the week and spark students’ interest in what they will experience during the week.

Sample Strategies

Author an announcement during the week and schedule it to be posted on Sunday or Monday.
Post a current events article and how it relates to the week’s focus.
Share an experience from your professional life and how it connects to the week’s content, perhaps via an informal video.

Respond to all students’ (posted on-time) primary discussion post if you have 9 or fewer students (1/2 of students if you have 10 or more).

Acknowledge the effort and contribution of all students through meaningful responses to their posts. Discussion questions are not required, but if you are including them this expectation applies.

Sample Strategies

Larger courses should take special care to post to different students each week.
Wait until other students have posted then comment on each student’s primary post.
Respond to one student’s post and make a connection to another student’s post encouraging the two to interact
Consider reducing the number of traditional written discussion posts. you require.
Allow students to choose between several discussion questions to respond to.

Provide individual feedback (posted in the feedback section of the grade book) for all grades within a reasonable timeframe prior to students needing to complete subsequent assignments.

Inform students why they earned the grade they did for a given assignment. Let them know what they did well so they can repeat that practice. Inform them how they can improve their performance.

Sample Strategies

Tips for providing feedback on discussion posts:

Begin with a positive comment
Provide rationale for the grade (if it’s not 100%)
Provide an example or tip to help students do better
State your expectation
Remind them of available help
End with a motivational (e.g., You are doing a great job so far, and I appreciate your commitment and effort!) comment

Stay away from general comments such as “good job” and “nice comment”.
Make your comments educative – both positive and corrective.
Focus on one or two main concepts – too much “red” might deflate a student's enthusiasm.
Provide video or audio feedback. This can be done within WorldClass.
Include models or examples to clarify your comments.

Respond to student emails and phone calls at least every 24-48 hours (weekends and holidays excluded).

Respect students need for oneon-one communication with you by responding to each email.

Sample Strategies

Respond in a timeframe that you would expect them to respond.
Inform students at the beginning of the course – and then again later – the time frame in which you will reply.
Establish a process for them to contact you in case of an emergency
Consider having assignments due on a day that you are willing to respond to emails or other requests for assistance.

Online Faculty Engagement Sample Strategies – Revised September 2021

Introduction

Respond to every introduction post - assuming your class has an introduction activity

Post your own introduction in the student introduction activity

Instructors are visibly present to all students in the course on at least three different days each week, using methods determined to be the most appropriate to the course content. In addition, you are encouraged to be available (email) one day per weekend if you have weekend due dates.

Post a weekly announcement to introduce the upcoming content.

Respond to all students’ (posted on-time) primary discussion post if you have 9 or fewer students (1/2 of students if you have 10 or more).

Provide individual feedback (posted in the feedback section of the grade book) for all grades within a reasonable timeframe prior to students needing to complete subsequent assignments.

Respond to student emails and phone calls at least every 24-48 hours (weekends and holidays excluded).