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[msoexpert]

I've had the same experiences as all of you. On-campus student evals are generally better. Probably because of the personal face-to-face interaction.

But what I've done with my online students is engage them more and more. I use discussions which I regularly check and post feedback and additional questions based on their responses.

I also post some news events or items of interest throughout the week so they don't just log in once and get everything. In addition, I have a feedback section where students can post their comments on how class is going at any time. And I do check and respond to this.

I've found that online students are more work and need to be kept engaged. They need to feel that the instructor is there, rather than simply posting and grading stuff, and then disappearing. So I always make sure to respond to student messages within 24 hours--48 at the very most!

The real hard part that gets the lowest scores is the online grading. Since I switched to it to make my job easier, students have lowered their evals. They don't like the grading errors that the system makes. Even though I correct things and give them credit very quickly and without fighting. It's just that students don't like seeing things marked wrong initially that the feel is right.

And despite my posting specific guidelines with each question as to how to respond and enter their answers, many don't follow them, which results in things being marked wrong. Well that's not my fault, but theirs! So online grading is the one area where I get the biggest complaints.

Lastly, I post audio clips from time-to-time to jazz things up. Don't make them required, but provide them for those who may be interested. Students seem to like and respond well to "extras" beyond the standard lesson, homework, and quiz.