Establish connection and belonging from the start 

The first two weeks of your course are when students form their sense of belonging. Welcome them, anticipate common questions to guide them as they get started, and create space for students to get to know each other. This is especially important in online courses, where spontaneous, real-time interaction can be less frequent, even if live class sessions are scheduled. 

Why this matters 

Use the start of each semester to set student expectations about your responsiveness and build their trust. Plan for course introductions that support later group work by surfacing prior learning, student interests, and their confidence in course topics. Anticipate student needsbefore they arise with a custom homepage and detailed getting started steps. Share your personality and interests, so students can understand you as a real person. Tell them why you think your course is important for their development, and how your course design sets them up for success. 

How it helps 

Save valuable time at the start of the semester with an easy-to-follow orientation. This foundation prepares students for active learning during the semester and sets aside time to get to know your students – their backgrounds, interests, and goals. 

Cultivate a proactive presence to maintain momentum 

Support meaningful learning by periodically asking students what’s working, what to stop, and what to change. Build in timely assignment feedback, facilitate discussions strategically, and schedule group check-ins. Be careful though, too much communication mayunintentionally reduce student ownership of the learning process. 

Why this matters 

Teaching online requires regular and predictable interactions to maintain momentum. It’s a unique skillset requiring deliberate forethought and knowledge of various online tools. As an online instructor, you may not be able to quickly gauge student reactions and energy levels. Students encounter your written and recorded communications at different times and in different contexts. Clarity and consistency are key to addressing these unique aspects of online learning. 

How it helps 

Students feel supported when your communications and course design already answers the questions they may encounter. Protect your time and avoid frustration by planning ahead. Think about which parts of the course especially benefit from your teaching experiences anddisciplinary expertise. 

Engage students through purposeful active learning 

Student engagement is best achieved through meaningful collaboration rather than constant activity. Inquiry-based activities foster community and encourage deep learning in your online course. Group work and discussions can be invaluable, especially when you have aligned them with learning objectives.  

Why this matters 

Prioritize and elevate active learning experiences in your course by connecting them to important learning milestones. Make sure to tell students why you’re asking them to interact. A direct and proactive approach encourages students to invest the process. Provide guidance to groups for establishing roles, norms, and expectations so they can manage unexpected disruptions and take ownership of the learning process. 

How it helps 

Facilitating online discussions strategically with a "light touch" allows you to surface common misperceptions and elevate student insights and contributions while maintaining your teaching workload. When helping groups, offer students a sample group contract that they can customize and sign once they have reached consensus. This helps students navigate unexpected disruptions, mirroring real-world work processes.