All online courses should have a place where students are asked to introduce themselves to the rest of the class. There are many ways to do this. You can use text through a forum like this one. You can ask students to upload a 1-2 minute intro video in the forum using the record feature in Moodle, or post a YouTube link, or you can use a tool like Flipgrid. You can even have them create a comic strip-like Barry Dahl's class.
Remember, the point isn't to make it hard or overly involved. The point is to engage students and build community in a virtual environment. What's important is that you specify what information should be included in their introduction and the expectations around responding to other students.
Select "Add discussion" and introduce yourself. Include your name, department, the course you plan to teach online, and what you hope to gain from this course in your post.
Include your name as the subject of the post.
Respond to at least one person in at least 3-5 sentences.
(Note: We are all adults here. It doesn't have to be 3-5 sentences, but I suggest giving a word count or sentence count to students. In your actual course, don't forget to respond to the post yourself. If you are teaching a small class, try to respond to each student's post with a sentence. It will go a long way in building a connection.)
I'm too late for Summer 2020, but looking forward to learning this skill set and learning with you all!
I completed the training just in time for summer. I'm doing my Environmental Hazards and Urban Social Risks course online. I love being relevant.
Check this out: https://theconversation.com/what-to-expect-as-colleges-and-universities-move-classes-online-amid-coronavirus-fears-4-questions-answered-133334