Have you ever thought about how you can cover all bases when it comes to increasing or strengthening your presence in your online course? I would encourage you to think about what makes your presence felt in your face-to-face courses. Is it the fact that your students can see you, hear you, feel your vibe in person? Ahhh…yes! Indeed, it is.
Well, when it comes to teaching online, it is important that you do all that you can to ensure that your students see you, hear you, and feel your vibe online. One way to do that is by embedding a podcast in your course announcements each week. I am sure you know that podcasts are poppin’ right now. According to Newsweek, podcasts have exploded in the last five years and the USA is listening more than anyone else. So, it would only make sense to appeal to your students’ desire to hear what you have to say in this very informal medium.
Now, I know you may be thinking, “A podcast, Kellie? Really? I have enough to do.” And, I get it. But, I am not talking about a full-out production with an incredible music intro (although that would be extremely impressive) or inviting guests to have in-depth discussions about course content (but, hey, that would be amaaazzzzing). I am simply talking about 3 to 10 minutes max where you are sharing some helpful tips with students each week that doesn’t come across like an assignment or an instructional video.
Imagine sitting with a couple of students at a small table at your university’s student union and that should paint the picture. They are listening to your every word because they respect you like that and you are dropping gems that will make their academic journey more fulfilling. Those gems might cover academic issues and concerns, mindset growth strategies, or helpful resources (human and otherwise).
Okay, so now that you are envisioning it, let me show you how to do this in real life. Watch the video to learn how you can increase your presence in your online course with a weekly podcast. I call mine “Instructor Tip of the Week.” What will you call yours? Post your response in the comments here or under the video on YouTube. Remember to subscribe to the channel and share this post with a colleague. While you are on Christmas break, this would be a great time to create that podcast content for the upcoming semester.
Will you be adding a podcast to your course in the upcoming semester? Does this seem like something simple to do?
I have had a BYOAudio account for about 10 years now. All of my podcasts are stored with this service as well as other audio messages that I have created for students.
Click here to open your account and store your podcasts in a safe place.