In a traditional classroom, it’s usually pretty easy for instructors to establish rapport with their students. There is time at the beginning and end of class for small talk and greeting students. Sometimes, anecdotes regarding the instructor’s life and expertise naturally arise during a lecture or activity. In a traditional classroom, it is usually very clear that the instructor is an actual person – usually one who knows the students by name and gets to know them personally throughout the course.
In an online setting, establishing this rapport between instructors and students can sometimes prove to be difficult. Instructors must make a conscious effort to relate to students throughout the course and spend time getting to know students in order for their to be a positive interaction and develop a relationship.
It’s been proven, time and time again, that students who feel a connection to their instructors and feel like they are known and respected will do better in their courses. Therefore, it falls to the instructor to make sure that they are establishing rapport and developing relationships with students within the online classroom in order to help students be successful.
In most online classrooms, the following three areas are the best ways to establish rapport:
1. Instructor Introduction
In most online courses, the instructor is required to post an introduction. Within the introduction, the instructor will introduce themselves to the class. The way that this area is approached can have an impact on establishing rapport and developing relationships within the classroom. I’ve found it is a good thing to insert a bit of humor into my bio, to mention my family and hobbies (so I seem like a real person), discuss my teaching philosophy, and provide a photo of myself and my family. My goal in this area is to start to establish a connection with my students – and hope that there is something in my bio that they find amusing or can relate to.
2. Responding to Student Bios
With all that online instructors have to do, it is sometimes tempting to ignore student bios but reading and responding to student bios is one of the best ways to set a positive tone within the classroom. Instructors who take the time to get to know their students will have more positive experiences overall. Personally, I always spend a few hours in each class carefully reading student bios and responding with a few paragraphs and a follow-up question or two in order to get to know students better. Establishing connections such as we are both parents of twins or both runners, really helps to establish rapport
3. Presence
This is a crucial component of establishing rapport in the online classroom – presence. Students need to know when the instructor is available and see the instructor interacting within the classroom regularly. When the instructor is engaged and active frequently within the classroom, students feel more comfortable asking questions and posting within the discussion boards, which are a key component of learning in most online classrooms. For example, in my online classes I login at least twice a day, seven days a week, to check for questions, post announcements or comments, etc. My hope is that my students know that I am available if they need help and feel more comfortable within the course because of my online presence.
What else can online instructors do to establish rapport within the distance-learning classroom setting?
About the Author
Jamie Weitl is a WAHM teaching for several online universities and raising three precocious little ones. In her spare time she enjoys writing, baking, and running. For more info, see my Google Plus Profile.
