Let’s Keep it Real: Faculty Presence in Online Learning

Concurrent Session 7
HBCU Leadership

Session Materials

Brief Abstract

Struggling to keep it real? Faculty “being there” for students is a game-changer in online learning. In this session, you will learn simple strategies on how to increase faculty presence in your classes that can be implemented as early as today.

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Michelle Dukhovny, University of San Francisco

Michelle became a registered nurse in 2020 at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been in critical care since then. She is currently an intensive care nurse in the Medical ICU at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, Ca. She also earned a Master's of Science in Nursing Education in 2022 and holds an adjunct professor position at University of San Francisco. In addition to her strong passions in education and critical care, Michelle strives to research and implement evidence-based practices to uplift the entire nursing profession as a whole.

Co-presenter: Sharon Titus, Azusa Pacific University

Seasoned nurse educator and broadly experienced transcultural nurse who seeks to inspire and achieve student excellence by facilitating a student–centered learning environment.

Additional Authors

Mike Truong, Azusa Pacific University

I use learning science, technological advances, and strategic foresight to advance whole person education globally, with a particular focus on Vietnam. I have worked in the U.S. higher education system the past two decades -- first as a faculty, then as an instructional designer and technologist, and most recently, as an academic administrator. Active in the field of instructional innovation, online/blended learning, and whole person education, I have served in leadership positions at state and national organizations, facilitated workshops at academic conferences, authored articles on the scholarship of teaching and learning, and consulted with higher education institutions throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Extended Abstract

Since the pandemic, faculty presence in online courses has become even more critical to students’ overall learning experience. As a faculty member, do you struggle to connect with your students? Do you feel isolated from them? Are you looking for effective ways to “be there” for your students? In this session, we will discuss what faculty presence entails and offer simple strategies for faculty on how to be present in their online courses. We will also discuss how faculty presence can lead to increased student engagement and retention.

Faculty presence in online learning has three main components: 1) Humanization, 2) Communication, and 3) Effective use of technologies. Humanization is a foundational element of faculty presence. Do our students feel we are more than simply a name on a screen? Do they experience a sense of being and belonging in the class?  Secondly, communication is about being accessible when students need help. What more can we do to communicate “real” support to our students? A final element of faculty presence in online learning is the optimal use of technologies. Ever wonder if you are not using your learning management system (LMS) and other tools to their fullest?

Faculty presence can be cultivated through innovative uses of technologies. Understanding the basic tools and functionalities of an LMS can increase student connection and engagement. Strategies including regular communication, prompt grading, and discussion involvement can enhance students’ perception of faculty presence. Meet old friends and acquaint yourself with new ones while learning how to apply emerging strategies that promote faculty presence. 

Level of Participation:

This educational session will be presented with lecture-like structure. An engaging presentation will be promoted through captivating slides, live online polling, and inclusive conversations and questions.

Session Goals:

The goals of this session is to a) understand the concept of ‘faculty presence’, b) connect ‘faculty presence’ to student engagement, retention, and learning, and c) learn how to cultivate faculty presence, communication, and connection in classes.