Building a learning community in online classes

Building a vibrant and engaged online learning community takes strategic and consistent effort. But it’s worth your added focus for many reasons. Students who feel more connected to both the larger institutional community and to your specific class community are more likely to see a challenging course through, feel a sense of belonging, and achieve greater learning outcomes. As an instructor who prioritizes community building, you’ll see more student engagement and, consequently, student success. In this way, a strong learning community fuels a positive cycle of communication between instructors and students, helping everyone stay motivated through the entire semester to achieve their learning goals.

You can nurture a learning community in many ways, depending on your comfort level, teaching style, and course goals. Keep a few key guiding principles in mind as you determine how best to nurture the sense of community in your online course.

It’s never too early or too late to strengthen online engagement, but timing is important to consider when deciding which tactics to use. For example, it’s beneficial to begin a semester with personal introductions, well-established ground rules about participation, and teamwork integrated into the syllabus. But, even if you didn’t focus on community building at first, the opportunity exists in the middle or even end of the semester to introduce new engagement opportunities.

A great way to remember to engage students is to schedule it in your work calendar. Reach out to students at busy times of the semester, encouraging them to contact you over email or during office hours. As the semester proceeds, work piles up, stress compounds, and students may forget about or think they don’t have time to access available resources. By reaching out, you’re encouraging open communication, not to mention reminding — and convincing — learners that student supports are available and worth using.

Communities take organizing, and the online course community is no exception. Informal class calls meant for socializing can have a positive effect on students’ connection with the course. It may sound unconventional, but in the online class, students respond well to casual, social opportunities with instructors and fellow students. Students want to build friendships with their peers, even though connecting in-person isn’t currently possible. Socializing with classmates and instructors supports improved mental health and begins to foster a professional network. A positive emotional connection to classmates can also increase a sense of commitment to an online course, which helps students stay focused on their online learning path. This is especially beneficial in keeping students engaged as attention spans shorten later in the semester, Zoom fatigue settles in, and the course becomes more demanding.

If you’re unsure where to begin with a social class call, start with a list of conversation starters and then let the chat evolve naturally. You can also have a game of trivia prepared, either related or unrelated to the course. Video chat platforms have polling features installed that make this type of fun, interactive call possible. No matter how you chose to structure the hang-out, remember it’s meant to help students better know each other and you, not be a second lecture. Avoid conversations about the course syllabus to keep the conversation natural and welcoming, especially in large classes.

Another way to improve your online course’s learning community is to reach outside of your class bubble. You might take advantage of online learning opportunities outside academia by encouraging students to attend webinars hosted by community organizations related to your course content. Connecting your students with external groups working in your subject area can help learners bridge the gap between the class and ‘real world.’ They’ll better connect with your learning goals and see how their student success can translate into their career. Webinars and speaker series offered at your institution are also beneficial, helping students feel more included in the school student body. Of course, time is a limited resource for students, so incorporating these web events into the course grade may encourage attendance.

Building an online learning community takes concerted effort — but it’s worth it. Your efforts will improve student success and quality of learning. Plus, you, too, are likely to have more fun along the way.