Connection to instructor: sample strategies The first week (and even week before) your course begins is critical! Login at least once a day (twice if you can). Check the Q&A Forum, monitor who has/has not joined the class, reach out to students who are late in joining or who show minimal login time.

Tips for Starting a Humanized Course

Make your Start Here Module available a week before your course begins (Week 0)
Send an email/communication to all students to welcome them to your class and let them know they can and should try and complete the Start Here Module before the first week of the course. Be clear on when (day/time) the course officially begins and that you expect all students to log in by the end of the first day at the latest.
Ask students to contact you if they encounter any difficulty with getting started.
Privately message students who have not joined your course by the morning after the first official day of the course. Be kind. Ask if the student needs any help or is having any technical issues. Offer to talk by phone.
Make items from the Start Here Module due (i.e., Learner Info Survey, Syllabus Quiz) by the end of your course's first week (Week 1).
Include a Learner Info Survey. At a minimum, ask:

In one word, how are you feeling about being in an online class?
Is there anything I need to know that may interfere with your success in this class? This will remain between you and me. How can I help?

Reach out with a voice/video message to students who communicate negative feelings in the Learner Info Survey.