Mr. Wade-a-Minute

Fresh from the Washington Canvas Conference at Tacoma Community College, my husband John and I went out to dinner at the nearby Duke's Restaurant.  This is a very popular waterfront spot known for its great chowder and seafood food - and its fantastic happy hour menu, always a big selling point for us. I had been part of  3 presentations at the conference, and was feeling delighted that the pressure was over, that the sessions had been good, and to have made some great new connections as well as reconnecting with others that inspire me.  Bring on the happy hour!

Our 30-ish waiter came and bent down on one knee by the table to talk to us.  I noticed right away his focus; his first mission was to connect.  It felt like we knew him - he connected as a person; none of that rote, memorized stuff. He introduced himself as Wade, and explained some menu items as we looked over the huge menu- so many decisions to make.  He could tell we would need time. "No hurry - just let me know when you are ready," he said.  As he turned to leave, he said, "It's Wade. My friends in college used to call me "Wade-a-Minute".

Now, I usually can't remember someone's name for more than 5 seconds after they turn away. But he had given me a mnemonic. Wait a Minute.  Mr. Wade-a-Minute.

When he brought our drinks, we chatted a bit more. He looked at my peacock scarf and said, "Peacock; my spirit animal." I looked at him quizzically. "They laugh like humans, and I love to laugh," he explained.  "How do you know its your spirit animal?"  I asked.  "I took the spirit animal test," he said.  As soon as he left the table, I looked it up online on my phone.

As we enjoyed our (first) drinks, I took the short spirit animal quiz. In the past, a lot of people at our institution have  taken the Strength Finder Quiz, and they have cards posted near their desks or on their doors, with things such as: Achiever. Empathy. Positivity.  It has always bothered me that they are not grammatically parallel terms. They also seem to be no more "real" than the  horoscope...although you can get that for free, whereas this one costs money.  So I was happy to take the quiz....and delighted with the results.

When Mr. Wade-a-Minute came back to the table, I told him: "I'm a butterfly.  Powerful transformer." He grinned - a bit surprised that (someone so old as myself?) had taken the quiz.  He had engaged me with a new idea, and I had tried something new.  My husband John thought it was a perfect description, but  rather than take the quiz himself, wanted to concentrate on his new drink, which Mr You-Know-Who had recommended.

As we enjoyed our meal, I watched Wade move around the section. He knelt at each table and gave them his full attention, nodding, listening, recommending. He made sure that each of his tables had his undivided attention when he was there, then he was up and running; putting in orders, bringing food and drinks, moving with efficiency and intent.

It dawned on me that he was putting into action many ideas that were highlighted at the conference. He knows how to connect and meet his audience where they are, he is not the sage on the stage, but the guide on the side, and I had learned something new.  He brought the personal into the setting to build a little community at each very diverse table, with diverse needs and attitudes. He guided the whole experience, and we left with a feeling of wanting to go back, not because of the food, but because of Mr. Wade-a-Minute.

I think we all have this power in our hands, if we just connect with intent, listen to our students' needs, and step back and guide their experience.

What Your Online Body Language Says About You Originally published by eLearning Industry Jan 21st 2016

Everyone knows that your body language conveys much –if not more– than what you say. And we usually approach the online environment as if there were no body language. But there is another way to look at this: Your online body language can be powerful as well as body language in person.

If you are not investing your full self into your online courses, your online body language says that you don’t care about your student. If your course is set up as a list of files to open and links to read –without dialogue, images, activities, or engagement from you– then no matter what you contend, your online body language says that the students as individuals –people who have ideas and experiences to contribute to the learning experience– are not very important to you.

If your courses are mainly a series of multiple-choice tests based on the readings or PowerPoints, then your online body language is challenging; your arms are crossed; perhaps you are stifling a yawn. Go ahead, try and pass this course. I actually don’t care whether you do or not. You may find that your students end up yawning as well, and leaving your course unimpressed and more than ready to forget the material.

On the other hand, if your course is made up of links to an outside subscription site, where students have to pay as part of their textbook cost, what your online body language is saying is Leave me alone. There’s the material, over there to study. It’s enough that I have to enter all these grades! Not only are the students paying for something that you probably could provide them (with some effort and Open Educational Resources), your attitude in many cases negatively affects how they feel about the subject and the class. Not to mention how they feel about you.

If your course is devoid of images to illustrate ideas and stimulate discussions, without giving the students different ways to show that they understand the content, your online body language conveys the fact that you have no understanding of the diverse learners you have in your class, and little patience with those who don't already know what you know. Your online body language in this case is dismissive; if you can’t learn content the same way I remember having to learn it, then go somewhere else. (And you may find that students actually can go somewhere else, and may very well do so.)

It’s Not Too Late To Change

Fortunately, online body language can be changed. If you really want your students to enjoy learning, your attitude counts more than your knowledge. You can adjust your online body language by being aware of how strongly it “speaks” to your students, and revise your course to reflect your new online body language. Consider raising your awareness of different learning styles, exploring some online tools that may be useful for you, taking or finding some photos and utilize them in your course. Create a discussion around a topic that allows students to share their ideas; have them create videos, upload photos, and become part of the fabric of your course. Build on that energy; allow your course to be a place where everyone is leaning forward, across their desks, collaborating and learning.  This feeling can be created online, with an engaged online body language.

You can even insert a quick survey into a current course; ask your students what is working for them, what they are confused about, and what their biggest challenge is in your course. Experiment with some different ideas – consciously leaving your own comfort zone is a great way to mentor a growth mindset with your students.

If you engage your students with a variety of activities, provide personal feedback on assignments, boost your curriculum by taking advantage of the internet tools and resources, and provide safe places for formative assessments (such as practice tests), lots of visuals and a clear direction for success, your body language says: I care about you. I want you to succeed.  I am here to help. Your smile is genuine; your voice is sincere. Your online body language can pull struggling –sometimes even reluctant– students along.

Yes, online body language exists. Be aware that no matter what you say (or write) your online body language has a strong effect on your students.