Teaching online can feel very different from teaching in a face-to-face classroom. Without being able to read students’ facial expressions or body language, it can be challenging to gauge who is engaged, who is struggling, and who may be quietly falling behind. Students themselves often report feeling lost in online environments, carrying a persistent worry that they are missing important tasks—whether it’s an assignment, a discussion, or another activity. I have experienced this personally as a student in an asynchronous online doctoral program and have observed the same unease among graduate and doctoral students I teach.

As online faculty, it is essential to keep students informed about what to do, how to do it, and when it is due. We share a syllabus at the beginning of the course that serves as a travel guide for the learning journey; however, the learning management system (LMS) is where we continually reinforce those details. Announcements with links to modules and assignments help students navigate the course, but sometimes additional support is needed.

One simple, low-effort strategy that can significantly improve clarity, connection, and student success is the use of short weekly overview videos.

I first learned more about this practice in the Effective Online Teaching Practices course offered by the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE). Initially, a student recommended that I try weekly overview videos, and I experimented with them in a few courses. ACUE’s course provided additional resources and structure to implement the practice more consistently. Since then, I have used weekly overview videos in all my courses, and student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Students report that these videos help them feel less worried about missing important tasks and help the course feel more navigable.

Keep It Simple

The key to creating a successful weekly announcement video is simplicity. Aim for 3–5 minutes in length, use a conversational tone, and remember that perfection is not the goal. Consistency in timing is what matters most. In my courses, a new weekly announcement is posted every Sunday to prepare students for the upcoming week.

Each written announcement includes:

• Links to the current module,
• Links to assessments (quizzes, discussion boards, and assignments),
• Due dates for all tasks
• A review of the previous week’s content and assignments.

The weekly video then adds depth to that written announcement. I typically record using Zoom, display the course shell in our LMS, and talk through the written announcement while clicking the live links. This approach not only helps students understand where everything is located, but it also serves as a quality check to make sure links work and content is logically organized.

In these videos, I begin with the module’s student learning outcomes and explain how our readings, videos, discussions, and assessments align with those outcomes. I also review assignment expectations and rubrics and may include practical tips—such as areas to focus on or reminders to review the rubric before beginning a paper.

The Payoff is Big

The benefits of weekly recorded announcements are clear. Students come to class better prepared and more engaged, and faculty receive fewer clarification emails. Perhaps most importantly, this practice strengthens the faculty-student connection and fosters a greater sense of community in the online classroom.

Small changes, like a short weekly overview video, can lead to meaningful improvements in the online learning experience. Online teaching doesn’t require doing more; it often requires doing a few intentional things well. Weekly overview videos are a low-effort, high-impact strategy that supports students and enhances teaching presence.