Joining a new community can be scary.  You are unsure of the social rules and the pecking order.  You are wondering if you will connect with others and if people will appreciate your thoughts or ideas.

You are wondering if you will fit in.

Common advice is to listen, watch and participate.  Sure, definitely do that.  Make a comment on a blog.  Follow a bunch of cool people.  Tweet an answer.  Ask a question on a Facebook page.  Join a forum and right your introduction.

The strategy is a good one.  And we have all been there.  We use this strategy to connect with others and hopefully draw people back to our blog. 

But sometimes I wonder where the leader is in this equation.  And do they put out the welcome mat?

The New Kid at School

Being the new student at a school is scary.  Not fun at all.  Exactly like what I mentioned in the first paragraph.  And the advice is normally the same – listen, watch and participate.

But in a school situation you are not alone.  Hopefully, you have a school that welcomes you, a teacher that helps you, and a group of students that will guide you.  Ways in which schools welcome new families and students are:

• Making sure they have everything they need before turning up on the first day
• Meeting the new family + walking student to new classroom
• Teacher welcoming student to class
• Teacher pairing student with a buddy
• Introducing the new student and family to school community – via newsletter, assembly
• Teacher modifying expectations in the first couple of weeks while student settles into class.

Schools and teachers know that a new student can’t just walk into a new school and be able to make friends, understand the expectations and get A’s without support.

The same should apply online.

The Online Welcome Mat

Every online hub needs a welcome mat and a strategy.  A place and intent to welcome and support all new members.  If you are hoping to connect with you people then you need to lead them.  You need to set the tone on your blog or membership course that new members are welcome.

Providing an online space on a forum for introductions and a place for comments on your blog is a start.  But you, the leader, needs to show up and interact with your people, especially the new ones.

Some ideas are:

• Blogs – if you notice a new commenter, make a comment on their comment or even on their blog
• Twitter – Welcome new members of your membership site on Twitter
• Facebook Page – Welcome new members, answer a question, mention new people in wall post
• Forum – Take the time to say G’day, answer a question. 
• Ecourses / Membership Site –Write an email to each new sign-up (not an auto-responder – a real email)

Yes this takes time.  But it is important time.  And it will show your new reader or member that the spotlight is going to be on them, not you and your content.  Straight up you are showing everyone that people matter.

And that is really what engagement and teaching is all about.

What are some personable ways you welcome people to your online hub?

Don’t you just love terminology! That corporate mumbo jumbo speak.  Not me.

But for the sake of this post I need to get some jargon out of the way.  To never be used again.

In the world of big business I am Instructional Designer.

In that role I help subject matter experts (person teaching the course, person with most knowledge) create content that is easy to learn.  I would explain to the technical expert (computer ninga)  how I wanted the online space designed.  And I would spend time writing activities to get learners to understand and remember the content.   I would be in charge or instruction.

But I don’t want to be an Instructional Designer?

One: No one knows what the term means.

                Two: As a teacher I do more than just instruct.  So much more.

Three:  I don’t design but transform.  Transform the course and the teacher.

Instead I like to think of myself as a teacher of a teachable moments.

Teachable moment:  thought, action or decision designed to get learners thinking and doing.

I teach coaches, businesses, bloggers and consultants how to create an online ecourses that:

• Provides the very best content written for different learning styles and abilities
• Is just perfect for their learners
• Includes plenty of activities that gets learners using the knowledge for their needs
• Has multiple opportunities for learners to connect with each other and the teacher/s
• Is written in an easy to read and follow format
• Uses multiple online networks to facilitate community spirit like Facebook, Twitter, Forums
• Has plenty of opportunity for learners to reflect
• Involves the teacher turning up and being involved with their students – supporting, guiding, caring, changing and growing with the students

I also give advice on:

• Supporting all types of learners – beginners, immediate and advanced
• Staying motivated
• What to do when your learners don’t seem to be doing what you want them to do
• How to change a course or your teaching style during a course

By teaching others how to infuse teachable moments into their courses I am also transforming the teacher.

I also transform the way ecourse creators think about their role.  They are not subject specialists of a niche market.  (Note soulless mumbo jumbo speak again)

They are teachers interested is providing valuable content, opportunity for learners to grow, to improve and develop because of carefully designed action activities.  They create a community of learning and are also involved in that community.

Hi! My name is Ainslie Hunter and I transform ecourses (and people) from knowledge overload into vibrant communities of action and learning.

Forever a teacher and learner.  More than an Instructional Designer.