Strategies for innovative teaching and learning Part 3: Connecting with students from a distance

The third article in a three-part series discusses ways to enhance communication with students and promote connectedness when delivering a distance online course. Students in distance programs may have feelings of not being connected to the instructor and peers leading to dissatisfaction and isolation. Methods of how the instructor can promote an environment of connectedness through the use of announcements, video conferencing, video updates, scheduled phone calls, and office hours will be discussed. The first paper discussed the history of distance learning, the positives and negatives of online learning, advantages and disadvantages of online learning, and the initial considerations for establishing online courses. The second paper delved into understanding of the learning platform, developing a course model, creating individual assignment rubrics for courses, requiring active participation from both instructor and students, and setting-up quality communication.