I encourage you to think of online teaching not as a task or set of duties, but at its core it is a set of interactions. More importantly, every interaction has a potential to contribute to the learning and development of students, if you will demonstrate some form of appreciation. This begins by finding something positive to state when you write an email or post a message. From there you can utilize any one of the many strategies provided within the chapters ahead.

If you maintain a disposition which reflects your enjoyment of the work you do, this will also show up in your interactions and before long, you will naturally be using appreciative teaching. When students perceive you appreciate them in some manner, and they experience ongoing positive interactions with you, appreciative teaching will have also become a transformational strategy. Both you and your students will be transformed.

I hope you are looking forward to my new book.

Dr. Bruce A. Johnson