Build Community Online to Ensure Retention
Online Students Need to Feel Connected or They Will Disappear
Feb 7, 2009
One of the biggest concerns both students and faculty have about online learning is the lack of personal interaction. According to Dr. Michael Herbert, Chair, Criminal Justice Department, Bemidji State University, studies show that students are continuing to sign up for online classes despite the statistics that show up to 50% of them will not complete course. It is for this reason that instructors in online programs need to take the lead in establishing community to provide that missing interaction.
Require Structured Participation in Discussion Boards
If students are required to participate in threaded discussions as part of the course activities, then the instructor needs to assign points for participation. These points should be for substantive responses, and not for one or two words. In addition, the instructor should provide guidelines for number of responses required and the number of different days participation is required. If there are no guidelines other than number of responses, students will tend to visit the discussion board once, respond the appropriate times and not return until the next required session.
Once students get used to communicating this way, they will want to participate on multiple days just to see what their classmates have posted. It is important for the faculty member to also be "present" frequently in the discussion boards.
Post an Introductory Bio in a Designated Chat Room
Creating a separate forum for chatting about whatever students chat about in the hallway or before class is a great way to establish community. Have the students post a short bio in the chat room to get the discussion started. The instructor should also post a bio here and should let the students know that this discussion forum is for them to chat with each other, get to know each other and share their experiences.
The instructor should monitor the chat room to watch for inappropriate behavior but should not participate in most of the discussions. Much the same was an instructor would not intrude on conversations in the student lounge unless invited.
Provide Feedback Within 24 Hours
This is critical. If a student posts an assignment and does not hear back from the instructor, that student will wonder if the instructor got the assignment. Even if the initial feedback consists of "Assignment received, thank you." the student will feel much better right away. When grading the assignment, it is also important to provide adequate feedback on the work done. It is not enough to just mark it with a grade or check mark. The instructor needs to provide constructive criticism of the work and let the student know how to improve it.
Maintain Regular Office Hours
If students know when they can contact the instructor outside of class, they will feel more comfortable. Even if that contact is via email or phone, the student will appreciate the one-to-one contact with the instructor without everyone "watching" as they would be in the discussion board.
Office hours should be held at least three times a week, preferably at different times of the day so students can work them in around their own schedules. One of the reasons students take online classes is for the convenience of going to class at their own schedule. Faculty office hours should offer that same flexibility.
Praise Students Publicly for Their Good Work
Just as Prem Rao, Management Consultant and Business Executive, states in his blog, Praise in Public, Criticize in Private, it is important to praise students in the discussion board when they post an especially well written response. If there is a problem with a student, the faculty member should never use the public forums to criticize that student, just as he or she would never openly criticize a student in front of his or her classmates in a traditional class. Public acknowlegement of their achievements will bring the students back to class again and again.
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