Five ways to connect with online students

4. Encourage your students to connect with each other through meaningful discussions.

Design your group discussions to maximize interpersonal communication among your students. Manage an online classroom that promotes a comfortable and safe environment for thoughtful and substantive discussions. Ask questions that motivate online students to connect to one another.

5. Explore interactive communication such as live chats, instant messaging, and online office hours.

Real-time communication gives students a sense of control and connectedness. Whenever possible, use both synchronous and asynchronous forms of communication in your classes. Encourage students to take advantage of these opportunities not just with you as the instructor, but with their fellow classmates in group projects and discussions.

Rebecca M.R. Costello is the campus registrar for Rasmussen College at the Rockford, Ill., campus, where she has also taught Success Strategies and Oral Communication. Her background includes experience in operations management and corporate training. She has a master’s degree in corporate communication from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and has written and lectured on topics such as groupthink, uncertainty reduction and change management, communication competence, effective performance feedback and appraisal, and managing the entitled employee.