QM 1.9 Learners have the opportunity to introduce themselves. (Important)

Introductions help create a sense of community among students who may feel isolated in an online environment. Learning more about their classmates as they share interests, backgrounds, and educational goals can foster a more engaging and supportive learning atmosphere.

Refresh Your Course

General Suggestions

Create a discussion board activity in the first week of class where learners are asked to introduce themselves to the class.
Give learners the choice of how they introduce themselves: by text, audio, and/or visual means (learners may choose not to share a photo of themselves).
Encourage learners to learn and use one another’s names.
Suggest that learners customize their LMS profile.

Examples

Discussion Board: "Who's Who in Our Virtual Classroom"

Objective: To facilitate student introductions in an engaging and informative way, fostering a sense of community in the online course.

Instructions:

Create Your Introduction Post

Go to the designated discussion forum titled “Introductions.” Create a new post with your name as the subject line.

Share About Yourself

In your post, briefly introduce yourself. Include your name, location, major or field of interest, and a fun fact or hobby. You can write your introduction, post a video instead, or upload a sound or image file, like an infographic. Feel free to add why you chose this course and what you hope to gain from it.

Add a Personal Touch

If possible, upload a friendly photo of yourself or an image that represents a hobby or interest of yours. Alternatively, you can share a favorite quote or a short video introduction.

Engage with Your Classmates

After posting your introduction, read through and respond to at least two other classmates’ posts. In your responses, find common interests or ask questions to learn more about them. Complete the activity by the deadline.

Faculty Development Opportunities

Student Engagement in the Online Classroom
Intro to Online Course Design Course
Creating a Welcoming Environment in Canvas Webinar
Fostering a Sense of Community in Your Online Courses Webinar
Social Annotation for Student Collaborative Learning in Online Courses

Sign up for these and other faculty development offerings by logging into CampusGroups.

Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI)/How this standard supports RSI

Indirect impact: The instructor’s introduction and contact info help set the stage for interaction by making them approachable. But these alone do not count as regular and substantive interaction unless the instructor actively engages with students through feedback or discussions.