Do you think it is possible to be “authentic” when teaching online?

Absolutely I do, and I’m going to tell you why. It is in our instinct to investigate. And now that virtual learning has empowered us all to take a suite of digital tools, play, and practice with them to make new meaning. We’re all doing it together and if you have a solid North Star to compass your way, letting your guard down is a surefire way to earn your audience’s attention. Letting them in creates a permission structure for learners to follow. 👣

I’m quick to remind my college counseling students that when they demonstrate vulnerability in their college essays, we also start to root for them because now we know what motivates them as they move through life. It is also a good time to remind students that they do not have to share their apps with anyone without their permission, including parents. The personal statement can be a tricky one if it touches a nerve. I’ve seen that movie. 🫣

Or do you think a more formal style is appropriate? 

It doesn’t have to be as binary as that, provided some rules are in place so we can learn when and why to break them. That’s always the first thing users are bound to do with a new tool is try and break it. Ask any engineer. It comes back to what we as designers know about human-centered design ~ and that we must consider how targeting human behavior improves performance.🧠

How can designers of learning experiences employ a sophisticated recognition of how humans behave when given a new tool. We know this. The only formality I see as essential is a universal respect for your learner’s intelligence. 🤝

Whether you choose authentic or formal as your choice of online instructional style, give some examples of what that might look like.

I think you can split the difference between the two. So far in this class, we’ve encountered several examples of taped video instruction across a wide spectrum of disciplines, and subject matter experts have provided instruction or facilitated an exercise. What they are all doing is spiking the camera and giving it to us in the moment, as any actor would, and guiding us, the audience, into their world. The most effective ones have been those that have an elevated production value, which instills a critical sense of trust with their audience, as they make an impression and aim to keep their students focused on the learning objectives at hand. 🎯

Almost all of these folks have been on a teleprompter, let’s talk about that. It’s no secret that our politicians are tethered to them as much as our news anchors are. I would also bet that at least half of them have an ear mic 🦻 in with someone to catch them if they go off script or need a rescue. 🛟

Because when there is much at stake and invested to produce an effective video as part of an e-learning experience, [prior preparation must be done to ensure you get what you need when the cameras start rolling…🎥

Would you have a casual online conversation?

I would describe the vibe of the conversation I am going for as California Casual. Meaning, relaxed enough to dismiss pretenses, but the rules of engagement for conversation don’t change.  🌴

Would you have strict guidelines?

Resist the impulse to make snap judgements. Every student must be provided with explicit terms to universally agree upon expectations for discussion. There must be no hate speech. 🚫