I think this seems like a simple thing to do, but it really matters to online learners that they get to know their instructors. It also provides a nice model for participants when instructors post an introduction first.
I think this standard is particularly essential to teaching online successfully. We have to realize that online learners have different needs than students we are teaching face to face, and our instruction must change accordingly.
Communicates with students effectively and consistently (SREB D.1, ITS 1.g)
This is another critical standard. Online learners can feel very disconnected and disengaged from the course. They can feel like it is difficult to communicate with instructors or classmates. Instructors need to communicate effectively and frequently to keep our learners engaged.