It was a Friday evening when I saw an ad at the bottom of my screen looking for English instructors online. I was in my second year of teaching in the field in a local high school at the time, but I clicked on it and won my first online post at ITT Technical Institute. I loved it and dreamed that I could do it full time one day – it was 22 years ago. I did my just part of auxiliary education before winning a full -time position, which I have been holding for almost a decade. During my 22 years of online teaching, I continue to learn new things about what it takes to thrive in the field.
1. Have a unique presence
If your photo or name was not attached to your online course, could your close colleagues say that it was your class? Otherwise, work on your lessons a place where your personality shines through your discussions, your advertisements, your daily comments and your interactions. Even if it is only one thing, it can bring you out and allow your students to remember you positively and even decades later. I use Tiktok videos in my ads to motivate students and in my discussions to add depth, and my students love it. I am also very spiritual, and the students take up immediately thanks to the questions I ask them in our discussions, through the quotes that I share and through my interactions with them.
2. Be real
Frank Kafka said one day: “I was ashamed of myself when I realized that life was a costume party, and I attended my true face.” In a world that aspires to validation, often for things that they are not, try to be real. There is no shame in there. Your students will find refreshing authenticity and see the classroom as a safe place to be themselves. When students receive you better, they are more likely to listen, to communicate, to find out and to realize.
3. Be in a good mood
Voltaire said one day: “The most important decision you can take is to be in a good mood.” Creating a positive link with students goes beyond a strong first impression – this requires pleasant consistent interactions. If you have a difficult day, approach the next one with a fresh and positive state of mind. Even small gestures, such as offering words of encouragement or simply asking how they go, can have a significant impact on students, even if they seem unnoticed.
4. Start a group cat
Students want to have the impression of belonging. While social media has given the illusion that we are more connected, the Americans are faced with an epidemic of loneliness (“epidemic of American solitude”). Giving students a space where they have a seat at the table will make them appreciate and lead to stronger ties between everyone in the group. I like to share advice and tips, resources and other information that can benefit them. It is a place where students can ask questions, share ideas and everything they want to share. This has made my lessons more memorable and the students often thank me for the opportunity.
5. Get to know your dean
Regular individuals with your Dean will make you feel that you have the support you need to keep moving forward. I always look forward to the time I spend with my Dean to discuss ideas and get his opinion on the questions I face in my class. Do not underestimate how your dean can make you a better instructor.
6. Validate feelings
Try to remember what it was to be a student with questions or concerns. Students often have an apprehension when it comes to approaching you. Be accessible and accessible so that they can share their thoughts. Although you do not agree with everything they say, they will appreciate that you have validated their feelings.
7. Be nice
Think of your favorite teacher from your college days, the best doctor you have ever had, or even a restaurant server you like to see. They all have one thing that makes us remember with emotion: kindness. Faith to create a warm and welcoming environment in which the students are looking forward to being part and getting involved. If the maintenance of a polite and pleasant tone is difficult, consider using AI to help you refine your language. Over time, it will become more natural, and the positive atmosphere that it promotes will do something that you really appreciate.
8. Accept the present moment
The spiritual professor, Eckhart Tolle said one day: “Whatever the present moment, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against. Make your friend and ally, not your enemy. No matter how meticulously we plan, everything will not go as planned. What is important is to embrace reality and to make the most of the situation. Whether it is a student who argues on a note or new requirements on teachers, avoid being frustrated and finding the silver lining in each situation. It may be a blessing on which you look with a smile.
9. Use PTO
How many times have people said after a good vacation that they are ready to turn to work? The rest and relaxation will make you feel like a new person with a nicer and more generous attitude. Take the time to disconnect and if you cannot, weave activities that bring you joy in your weekly schedule.
10. Move your body
Move your body – turn off, lift, run – everything to empty your mind. To stay entirely present with your students every day and avoid professional exhaustion, first prioritize your own well-being. Find a movement that works for you and be consistent with this. The consistency of this will help you be more consistent with other good habits.
11. Remember why
Years and decades of teaching will make you forget the question “why”. We often tell our students to think about the reason why they embarked on the course of higher education to help them excel and find higher levels of satisfaction, but we do not often give this question a serious consideration ourselves. The answer can bring us closer to what we do in class.
What would you add to the list?
Dr. Noura Badawi has been teaching online for 22 years.
References
American solitude epidemic: what to do? Weill Cornell Medicine. (2024, April 4).
https://weillcornell.org/news/america%E2%80%99s-loneliness-epidemic-what-is-to-done
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