{"id":6930,"date":"2015-06-10T14:11:22","date_gmt":"2015-06-10T19:11:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/?p=6930"},"modified":"2022-06-14T01:58:44","modified_gmt":"2022-06-14T06:58:44","slug":"create-a-sense-of-community-for-online-learners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cat.xula.edu\/food\/create-a-sense-of-community-for-online-learners\/","title":{"rendered":"Create a Sense of Community for Online Learners"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Janice Florent<\/p>\n

Online instructors must find new ways to engage their students and create a sense of community in a virtual world. Simple participation in an online course is not enough to create and sustain an online learning community. <\/p>\n

How do you engage your students and inspire them to engage one another? In a THE Journal<\/a> article, Chris Riedel, shared tips he got from the FETC conference<\/a> to help educators create a sense of community online. Those tips are:<\/p>\n

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Create a compelling first impression<\/strong> - use tools like a smart phone, a webcam, or iMovie to build a memorable introduction to the course and course material. This is a great way to break the ice.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
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Encourage students to create their own spaces for learning<\/strong> - these include blogs, wikis, social media and other outlets.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
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Connect to students in multiple ways<\/strong> - find digital spaces students are comfortable with and let them take control.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
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Create support groups<\/strong> - create \"support groups\" of students who can be there for one another and provide an additional mechanism for learning.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
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Video trumps text<\/strong> - use video to communicate with students and encourage students to use video to connect with each other.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
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Audio trumps text<\/strong> - there is value in using voice; audio can add real value to your interactions with students and their interactions with each other.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
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Be a connector first, a content expert second<\/strong> - find guest speakers to add context and value to what is being learned in the class setting.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
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Play together<\/strong> - give students the freedom to explore new things and play with new ideas and technologies.<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n
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Define the expectations of the community<\/strong> - every class should have to answer two questions: <\/p>\n