[Customize based on your webcam expectations and technology use]

Option 1:

Students, our course will work best when we all do our part to create a sense of community by engaging with each other. One option for engaging with each other is to turn on your webcam. This will help people get to know names and faces and will also assist with reading nonverbal cues.

While this is one method of engaging, it is not the only way to engage in our course. Being active in chat, voicing your thoughts in breakout rooms, and commenting in online discussion activities are all good ways to connect. If you are not going to use your webcam on a regular basis, I advise that you update your profile in Canvas to add a photo, avatar, or some other graphic; and consider personalizing your Zoom presence in the course. If we all make an effort, we will get to know each other; your course experience will be better for it.

Option 2:

Because learning in this course relies heavily upon the free exchange of ideas, we will spend some time every class period in discussion. Dynamic, organic, and engaging discussions thrive upon connection, eye contact, and interpretations of body language, so I expect that you will turn your camera on during class discussions so that I may gauge your understanding and better facilitate conversation. Zoom has a few features that might make this more comfortable, including Hide Self View (Links to an external site.) or Touch up my appearance (Links to an external site.). Zoom Backgrounds and the blurred background (Links to an external site.) feature are a great way to maintain privacy if connecting from home. Please see the the Zoom Orientation for additional information on using Zoom backgrounds and optimizing your Zoom experience if connectivity is a concern.

I will regularly change up what we do in class, and we will make use of digital tools like Zoom breakout rooms, polls, chat, Whiteboards, Kaltura videos, Canvas quizzes, or discussion boards. You will thus have multiple ways of participating in this class. If you do not have a working camera or if you are concerned about being visible during class, please let me know. With multiple ways to participate in each class, you will not have to have to your camera on all the time, but it will be beneficial for discussions.

Mid-semester Announcement

All, I have noticed that most students have not been turning the camera on during class, and participation through other channels is decreasing as well. While camera use is not required by Penn State — this is strictly up to each individual — I ask you to consider whether you might turn it on in some instances and/or how else you might engage.

Our course will work best if we can establish a sense of community and engage with each other. Turning on your webcam is one way to get to know one another. It also aids my ability to read nonverbal cues. I want to know if I am going too fast, if I have lit a spark of interest, or even if you have gotten my jokes. If I have slides up, there is no need to have the webcam on, but when we are in discussions, I would like to have all the communication methods available.

While the camera can be very helpful, I recognize that it is not the only way we are able to engage. Being active in chat, voicing your thoughts in breakout rooms, and commenting on online discussion activities are all good ways to connect. In addition, if you are not going to use your webcam on a regular basis, I recommend that you update your profile in Canvas to add a photo, avatar, or some other graphic; and consider personalizing your Zoom presence in the course.

Please take time to consider how you will engage in this course. Your active participation — in whatever form you choose — contributes to your learning and the learning of your peers.