This document provides tips for humanizing online classes by making them more inviting, personal, and interactive spaces. Some of the key recommendations include: 1) Get to know your students and let them get to know you by using pictures, videos, and familiar language in the class. 2) Make the class feel more like a community space or "third place" by giving students choices, allowing them to contribute content, and making the discussions interesting. 3) Employ a variety of interactive tools like polls, surveys, guest speakers, and Web 2.0 technologies to engage students and keep the class lively and fun.

1. HUMANIZING YOUR ONLINE CLASS
Warming up a Cold Medium
JIM MARTENEY
DISTANCE LEARNING TRAINER

2. High Tech High Touch
John Naisbitt
Warm and Cold Medium
Marshall McLuhan

3. Can Your Class
be a
“Third Place”
On Neutral Ground
Is a leveler
Conversation is the Main Activity
Accessible Ray Oldenburg

4. Can Your Class
Be a
“Third Place”
The Regulars
Low Profile
Mood is Playful
Home Away From Home

5. Can Your Class
Be a
“Third Place”

6. SO, HOW DO WE
“HUMANIZE” OUR
CLASSES?

7. MAKE
YOUR
CLASS
INVITING
Pete Parkin

8. GET TO
KNOW
YOUR
STUDENTS

9. LET THEM
GET TO
KNOW YOU

10. USE
FAMILIAR
LANGUAGE

11. USE
EMOTICONS

12. MAKE YOUR
DISCUSSIONS
INTERESTING

14. MAKE IT
THEIR CLASS
Give them a Choice
of discussions

15. MAKE IT
THEIR CLASS
Let them
Contribute
Content

16. USE SURVEYS
C.A.T.S.
Class Attitudes
Discussion Decisions
Non-class Topics

17. USE SURVEYS
Two Kinds
Etudes Survey Function
Poll Daddy

19. USE PICTURES

20. USE PICTURES
Anyone but this one

21. USE PICTURES
Anyone but this one

23. PUT
YOURSELF IN
PICTURES
AND VIDEOS

25. BE CLEAR
Let them know exactly
what is going on.
Don’t have them avoid
the class because of
confusion.
Overwrite if needed

26. KEEP THEM
INFORMED

27. KEEP THEM
INFORMED
Announcements

28. KEEP THEM
INFORMED
Announcements
Discussions

29. KEEP THEM
INFORMED
Announcements
Discussions
Modules

30. KEEP THEM
INFORMED
ADD YOUR
PICTURE

31. OFFER
POSITIVE
COMMENTS
Public
Private

32. USE
2.0 TOOLS

33. USE
2.0 TOOLS

34. USE
2.0 TOOLS
Twitter Search Widget

35. RESPOND
QUICKLY

37. VARIETY
VARIETY
VARIETY

38. CHAT A BIT

39. GET
INTERACTIVE

40. GET
INTERACTIVE
Get a Crossword Puzzle

41. INVITE
GUESTS

42. INVITE
GUESTS

43. INVITE
GUESTS
Kirby Timmons

44. RECRUIT
ASSISTANTS

45. RECRUIT
ASSISTANTS

46. MOST
IMPORTANTLY
BE
ENTHUSIASTIC

48. Nothing great was ever
achieved without
enthusiasm.
---Ralph Waldo Emerson

49. HAVE FUN

50. WHAT’S YOUR IDEAS?

51. Thank You