As I am co-ordinating a large undergraduate unit of first years my aim from the outset was to replicate the f2f environment as much as virtually possible in order to build a community of new university learners. I did this by switching all classes (lecture and tutorials) live to Zoom. I placed all communications under the heading Cyber Campus in an attempt to provide a positive frame to the shift to online. Within Zoom classes such features/tools as break out rooms, polls, Padlet and Mentimeter were integrated to create a dynamic learning environment. I encouraged synchronous student interaction (verbal or in chat). Asynchronously, on Piazza, I diligently replied to questions. Whilst the use of technologies gave a strong teacher presence and interactive opportunities, it was through the use of, what became a unit motif, the humble Caramello Koala (CK), that I ultimately felt I had built a community. Initially a reward in the first three weeks of f2f lectures, I moved CK online immediately and the ongoing CK banter between myself and the students and amongst the students became a foundation from which our learning community was built. The combined success of presence/interaction and CK has been evidenced by several thank you emails I have already received and f2f equivalent attendance at the live lecture and in tutorials.
Teaching@Sydney