6 Strategies for Building Community

in Online Learning
1. Create a Plan for Communication

Communication is essential to community, and it is a good idea to model effective

communication from the very start of the class. Create a calendar of when you will
contact students, individually or as a group. Communicating at the start of each
module with announcements or texts can also be beneficial. Touching base before
high stakes assignments is also important. A framework of frequent and effective
communication is the first step in encouraging community.

2. Establish Social Presence

Social presence, or the sense that individuals have that they are interacting with real
people, is an important concept for developing community. Several related factors
influence social presence. These include immediacy – the psychological distance
between communicators; interaction – when actions affect each other; and intimacy –
the notion that individuals will adjust their behaviors to maintain equilibrium. To
develop and foster social presence, consider the following:

 Creating an introductory video and having students do the same; these can be
simple smartphone videos where everyone introduces themselves and shares 2-3
facts about themselves.

 Giving student’s reason to come to the course site/ google classroom/fbg page
LMS often.

3. Meet in Real-Time 

 It’s not always possible (or even desirable) to schedule synchronous meetings,
but interacting at the same time can encourage community. Students get to
know each other, recognize faces and names, and share information.

4. Create Opportunities for Information and Expertise Sharing

One thing that draws us to communities is the rich resources that individuals provide.
Providing opportunities for students to share information is a useful strategy for
helping to develop community. A few options include:
 Create study groups. Assign students to small groups. Suggest that they use the
learning management system to work together. Doing so can help them learn to
work in groups and to make connections with their fellow students.

 Include a “relevant resource”.  Ask students to post information that’s

happening in the world that is related to the topic content. If students see the
importance of the content, they will be more engaged with it. Online articles,
essays, YouTube clips, and so forth can add additional value.

 Create a common space. Instructors can encourage informal interactions by

creating a common space such as a student lounge for discussion.

5. Use Collaborative Learning Techniques

 Collaborative learning requires students to work with each other, which can
help reduce feelings of isolation. In addition to simply being glad to know that
others are in the same boat, many online students appear to value interacting
and forming relationships with peers. Getting to know their peers in an online
environment can improve students’ overall experience. Online collaborative
learning provides a solid foundation on which such relationships may be
founded.

6. Develop Sub-Communities

 Some online learners may be hesitant to participate or share if there are too
many members. Developing sub-communities can help. These smaller groups
can provide a more personal experience and connect individuals with similar
interests. Separate discussion forums or small groups meeting in break out
rooms within videoconference sessions can help.
 In conclusion, community can be critical to student success and satisfaction in
online learning. Instructors/teachers can create opportunities for community in
the design of the course, the communication, and the activities they include.
Creating these opportunities is likely to prove well worth the effort.

 Letting them share work that represents them.