Building a Holistic Online Community: Strategies and Tools to Support Student Learning and Growth

• In Event: Discussing Online Discussions

Abstract

Many courses have transitioned online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The isolation of learning online can negatively interfere with students’ well-being. Moreover, many faculty are relatively new to this modality of instruction and may not have effective strategies for building community online. The present study employs a multiple case study design to identify how faculty successfully fostered students’ sense of community online, using data from 37 individual interviews with faculty across disciplines and accompanying course artifacts and evaluations. Our results suggest that purposeful design for “social presence” between instructor and students; creating opportunities for student-student engagement; and fostering a supportive environment are critical to creating a sense of community online.

Authors

• Katrina Borowiec, Boston College

• Deoksoon Kim, Boston College

• Lizhou Wang, Boston College

• Julie Kim, Boston College