I was using the discussion board but students were only typing their posts and responses. Discussions board assignments were posted to the whole class as a group. The first discussion was an introduction post and I would post a few sentences about myself there for the students to read. I occasionally created videos and once I did, I re-used them over and over. Or sometimes I found an existing video on YouTube and shared it. My syllabus was very dry, full of facts and rules and sticks but no carrots to promote positive outcomes.
I have learned to use Flip, Adobe Express, and YouTube. I had never heard of Flip and Adobe Express before. And I used YouTube to find existing videos previously but now I know how to upload my own creations to YouTube and use YouTube to add captioning. I have especially enjoyed getting to know Adobe Express. I haven't "played" with all the bells and whistles yet to see the full functionality but I see a lot of potential there. I also see the benefit of putting more of an emphasis on relationship=building and promoting good behavior instead of just marking students down when they fall short.
Now I need to find a good balance, especially in general education courses, of helping students learn what is expected of them in a non-confrontational way while still upholding expectations. I also want to further develop my skills in the creation of instructional videos. Using Flip, I want to build more engaging discussions in my courses too.