In online learning environment, creating a personal connection with learners becomes both more challenging and more crucial. A warm, inviting introduction can set the tone for the entire course, and this is where the Video Note tool in Avenue to Learn comes into play.

The Video Note tool allows instructors to record and share brief video messages directly within Avenue to Learn. It’s a powerful, accessible way to add a visual and auditory dimension to your course, infusing it with a sense of human touch that text-based communication sometimes lacks.

Adding a video note to your welcome announcement is particularly impactful. An instructor introduction video allows learners to see and hear their instructor, fostering a sense of familiarity and connection from the outset. It helps humanize the virtual learning experience, showing students that there’s a real person behind the screen who’s invested in their learning journey.

A well-crafted introduction video can:

1. Establish Rapport: Students get to know you beyond your written profile. They can see your personality and teaching style, which helps create a bond early on.
2. Set Expectations: You can use this opportunity to express what you hope your students will gain from the course, what they can expect in terms of workload, and how you’ll support them throughout their learning journey.
3. Boost Engagement: Seeing their instructor’s enthusiasm can motivate students to engage more with the course material, their peers, and their instructor.

Remember, your introduction video doesn’t have to be lengthy or overly produced. It just needs to be genuine and welcoming. In the upcoming sections, we’ll guide you through the process of using the Video Note tool and creating an engaging introduction video that resonates with your students.

The video below demonstrates how to add a video note to an announcement and enable closed captioning.