This provided great ideas on how to stay in constant communication with your students. Starting the year online I realize that I have to treat this just like if I had the students in my classroom. Doing the simple things like introducing myself to them is so important. Sharing my background in life with them helps put that at ease in some way. Allowing all the students to share information about themselves with other students. Students can see how they have similar interests as the teacher and/or other students. It helps ease feeling like you're a stranger.
I understand a little more why making directions available in a variety of ways is very helpful for online learners. Not having acccess to a teacher does make it difficult for many learrners. This area I will definitely need to work on in order to help my students.
