Collaboration and Community in Online Classes

Taking classes online does not mean you will work alone. Online classes typically include message boards and discussion threads, as well as special interactive forums to help classmates meet and greet each other beyond course work and assignments.

Collaboration and Community in Online Classes
By Victoria Patrick – eLearners.com .

Taking classes online does not mean you will work alone. Online classes typically include message boards and discussion threads, as well as special interactive forums to help classmates meet and greet each other beyond course work and assignments. Finding acquaintances and community is not out of reach in the online classroom.

1. Start the conversation and greet your fellow classmates. Act in the virtual situation as you would at a cocktail party: shake hands, introduce yourself, and mingle. If there is an online student lounge or open chat room, take advantage of the opportunity.

2. Use course materials and assignments as an ice-breaker. On message boards and discussion threads, pose open-ended to your peers about the reading material, podcasts, or videos. “I found it hard to trust the narrator in the first piece … did anyone else have the same reaction?”

3. Give classmates the opportunity to learn more about you. One of the best ways of starting a conversation with others—both off-line and on—is to discuss pets, family, and hobbies. Find a way to create a biographical Web page about yourself. Consider including photos of yourself, your family, or your pets. This kind of information makes it easier for others to relate to you than by only having your name and contact information.

4. Make yourself accessible to classmates using instant message services. When important assignments and projects are due, it’s nice to have a way of reaching out to others during your study time. Ask others if they are interested in creating a study group for your class and signing into the instant messaging service at the same time. This method may or may not work for you, depending on your study preferences.

5. Use social networking sites to help build relationships. Web sites like LinkedIn, MySpace, Friendster, and Facebook provide additional opportunities to create and maintain connections with others. Social networking sites can be a great way to learn more about each other professionally and personally.

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