1. Communication in Online Courses: Repairing Our Virtual Relationships
Instructional Strategies for Developing Teacher-Student and Student-Student Relationships in the Online Setting
Jennifer Willcutt, Reading & Study Skills
The Need for Extended Question & Answer in the Online Learning Environment
Greg Dahlstrom, Reading & Study Skills
Random Musings: Reflections From a New Online Instructor
Julie Stenberg, Reading & Study Skills
The Use of Blogs as a Site for Social Interaction and Community Building
Ben Kiely, English

2. The Importance of Community to Student Success Online
More engaged students
Learning is a collaborative activity
College involves acculturation
Better student retention

3. How Can We Establish Rapport Among Students and Teachers in Online Courses?
Create a positive presence online
Use multiple tools for maintaining communication
Help students get to know you and each other
Manage communication time

4. Classroom vs. Online Rapport
Introductions and ice-breakers (can involve physical movement)
Group activities
Oral communication
Non-verbal cues
Chat informally before, during, or after class
Discussion posting introductions
Groups feature in D2L
Written communication
Pictures of teachers and students
Computer slang:
, he he he, lol!

5. Setting the Stage Show students who you are
Authentic pictures of yourself
Use of the Profiles with background info, such as your favorite hobbies, in D2L.
Post a welcoming message on the course home page for the first day of class.
Show students you are real and want to get to know them

9. Learning about the Students
Have students respond to an Introductions discussion forum.
Have students post a picture and fill out their profile.
Have students write a short introductory paper called My Reading History.

11. Personalizing Course Content
Develop topics for discussion that may be of personal interest to a majority of class members (minority, immigrant, urban)
Choose readings that reflect the age, gender, ethnicity, or SES of your students
Ask students to share feelings and reactions to readings with the class

12. Demonstrate Interest in Students’ Lives
Giving your time to students
Answer student s according to your policy
Respond to questions via pager
Availability via phone
Giving feedback on student work
Track Changes feature on Word documents – upload file for student review
Give detailed, step-by-step instructions for procedures
Use video or auditory components to enhance content

13. Survey Feature Survey student opinions about the course early on!
Find out about students’ online experiences and adjust your course
Shows students you want to consider their thoughts and opinions
Results can be compiled automatically for entire class

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17. Student-to-Student Interaction
Assign groups using the Groups feature in D2L for peer-editing
Use of Discussion postings to generate student interaction with the course
attendance and participation points!

18. Timing Communication: Using E-Mail and the Pager Effectively
Develop a course policy for your and pager availability and unavailability
Hold voluntary D2L workshops
Course policy for how often and specific deadlines to turn in work, post to discussions
Conference calls?

19. The Need for Extended Question & Answer in the Online Learning Environment
Greg Dahlstrom, Reading & Study Skills
Random Musings: Reflections From a New Online Instructor
Julie Stenberg, Reading & Study Skills
The Use of Blogs as a Site for Social Interaction and Community Building
Ben Kiely, English