There’s no debating the fact that online education is
different from the traditional college experience. The online experience will
never be able to match the personal interaction and development that is such a
big part of campus life.
“It’s true that online learners will not have the same
types of interaction as their on-campus peers,” Eric Stoller wrote in a post for Inside Higher Education. “However, we need to stop thinking about what’s
‘missing’ or ‘lacking’ and focus on what we can do to increase connection and
build community via digital channels.”
For Stoller, the solution to better student engagement
may be social media. Social sites are already being utilized to connect
students and expand learner networks, but institutions should be working on programs
that use the functionality of social media while the class is in session and as
a tool students can rely on for further professional development.
“While online learners might not necessarily be able to
meet up at the campus coffee shop with their friends, they can meet up with
their peers via WhatsApp groups, Google Hangouts, Twitter hashtag
conversations, Periscope live-streams, and LinkedIn group discussion,” Stoller
wrote.