Although a formal decision has yet to be made about the Fall 2020 semester here at Johns Hopkins, many instructors are beginning to prepare for the possibility of teaching online. Building community in an online course can be a challenge, especially if instructors are used to teaching in a face-to-face environment. The strategies below are meant to provide students with a sense of belonging, reduce feelings of isolation, and ultimately help keep them engaged throughout the course. 

Let students get to know you, take time to get to know them:

• create a short video introducing yourself, including some personal details, not just academic credentials
• convey enthusiasm for the course
• create a survey asking students about themselves, their level of comfort with technology, what timezone they are in, etc.

Create opportunities for students to get to know each other:

• use ice breaker activities: ‘introduce yourself’ discussion board forum, intro videos, etc. Relate the activity back to course content if possible (e.g,. “What is something innovative about your hometown?” used in an Urban Studies course.)
• design activities that require student interaction: group work, peer review, etc.   

Create a safe and inclusive environment:

• invite all voices to the room – listen to students, validate their points, and when possible, weave their examples into your lecture (Schmitt)
• if possible, dedicate the first part of class to allow students to share challenges, coping strategies
• if possible, hold some synchronous sessions to allow students to see each other
• acknowledge and share your own struggles
• remind students of the basic principles of ‘netiquette’ when communicating online
• facilitate a group discussion around setting ground rules and/or mutual expectations for dialogue and collaboration in class   

Communicate regularly/Be Present in the Course:

• post daily/weekly announcements
• send weekly email check-ins
• remind learners about due dates, special events, share authentic news, share grading progress on assessments
• encourage questions: set up a Q and A discussion board forum
• make a commitment to respond promptly (daily, every other day) to student posts on discussion boards
• consider using video in your communication with students at least some of the time, as they appreciate seeing and hearing directly from the instructor  

References: 

Schmitt, R. (2020, May 14). Fostering Online Student Success in the Face of COVID-19. The Scholarly Teacher. https://www.scholarlyteacher.com/post/fostering-online-student-success-in-the-face-of-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR3v8lBQhOxT5fFU_q1HahnJVg6nCEvfGqeD_ZZHQ7gZHZkkH0LHuFGcX6g 

Amy Brusini
Senior Instructional Designer
Center for Educational Resources

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