Building an Online Community of Learning

Consider adding the following to your class to help make your online students feel more supported and connected to the class community.

• Post a recorded welcome statement from you (video or audio) in which you introduce yourself, your goals for the class, and your approach to teaching.
• Ask students to fill out a survey or introduce themselves in a discussion so that you have a sense of what they bring to the course (goals, concerns, skills, knowledge, pets)
• Create an open discussion forum that students can use for community building. First to introduce themselves to each other, and then to ask questions, share ideas, and support. 
• Post a draft of community norms that you expect students to follow when interacting online. Invite students to discuss norms as a group and offer additions & revisions. 
• Include language in the syllabus and on the site that addresses the ways students can struggle (especially during a global pandemic) and openly invite them to contact you for help if they need it. (Note that not all students know that this is something they are allowed to do, especially students who are first generation, international, or who belong to other marginalized identities.)
• Describe what steps you want students to take to show engagement if they need to miss a live class or skip a week to care for family, health, or other obligations.  

For more advice on community building refer to these handouts: 

• Creating Community in an Online Environment
• Preparing for Difficult Conversations During Remote Teaching
• Managing Difficult Conversations In Remote Learning Environments