Instructor presence in the virtual environment has been found to be a key determinant of student satisfaction and perceptions of learning in online courses. This presentation will examine several online engagement tools and techniques to help instructors reach today's students where they are.

In this presentation, techniques which enable instructors to increase their presence in the virtual classroom will be explored. In particular, the integration of tailored audio/visual productions, utilizing such tools as Screencast-o-matic, YouTube, selected learning apps, PowerPoint, and the omnipresent smart phone will be discussed. Basic guideposts for creating content that promotes connection with both the material and the instructor will be outlined. In addition, the technical aspects of creating and delivering video content to students suggest the need for equipment to create essentially a basic teaching production studio. The process of studio set up will be explored, including an itemized list of an example equipment package. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the shift in thinking about the instructor from content deliverer to content creator will be explored.

"The Virtual Classroom: Exploring Online Teaching Tools & Practical Techniques Instructor presence in the virtual environment has been found to be a key determinant of student satisfaction and perceptions of learning in online courses. This presentation will examine several online engagement tools and techniques to help instructors reach today's students where they are. Instructors bring to the classroom a wealth of knowledge. Much of their role in leading the classroom is to share their interpretation of the material and help students connect and apply concepts in meaningful ways. However, that role often, by virtue of necessity, becomes transformed in a virtual learning environment. Research suggests online learning is correlated with lower student satisfaction and, consequently, lower student persistence. Instructor's online social engagement and support has been identified as a key determinant of student satisfaction, and such interaction is positively correlated with student perceptions of learning. In short, students need teachers. How do we reach students in an online environment? In this presentation, techniques which enable instructors to increase their presence in the virtual classroom will be explored. In particular, the integration of tailored audio/visual productions, utilizing such tools as Screencast-o-matic, YouTube, selected learning apps, PowerPoint, and the omnipresent smart phone will be discussed. Basic guideposts for creating content that promotes connection with both the material and the instructor will be outlined. In addition, the technical aspects of creating and delivering video content to students suggest the need for equipment to create essentially a basic teaching production studio. The process of studio set up will be explored, including an itemized list of an example equipment package. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the shift in thinking about the instructor from content deliverer to content creator will be explored. "