Adding Interactivity to Distance Learning Courses

Adding Interactivity to DL Courses

Given the physical and temporal separation between faculty and students, it is important to consider the methods of communication—between the faculty member and the students, and among students—that will be used in the course when developing lesson plans. Interaction between DL faculty and students is a key factor in student retention and success. Students who feel engaged in a course—through activities such as online discussions, group exercises, and regular contact with the instructor and classmates—are more likely to complete the course and enjoy their distance education experience.

Interaction may occur during faculty office hours, or it may take place via telephone, email, electronic chats, on-site meetings, video teleconferencing, or other methods. Appropriate interaction for a course depends upon the course delivery mode and the technologies used by the faculty member. To learn more about designing interactivity into your DL course, visit the Instructional Development Services website, or schedule a meeting with an ID Specialist at your campus.

The following recommendations for increasing communication and interactivity may be applied to DL courses of all delivery modes as appropriate.

Build interactivity into the course between instructor and student, and among students.
Encourage electronic communication between instructor and student as well as among students.
Respond to email quickly. Provide students with an estimated response time to email and voice mail messages in your syllabus.
Post relevant course messages, announcements, and reminders on a regular basis.
Hold virtual office hours in addition to on-campus office hours.
Use Blackboard components such as the Digital Drop Box and Discussion Board to facilitate electronic communication. Require students to respond to discussion topics at least once a week.
Base a portion of the student's grade on class participation. Provide students with the opportunity to evaluate their teammates' effort and course participation.
Develop interactive exercises, group activities, and assessments to tie in with each lesson, chapter, or video program. Encourage students to form study groups or small teams to work together on assignments.
Incorporate Wimba audio components in Blackboard courses. Record voice announcements and audio blogs, send email messages with embedded audio, and conduct live voice chat sessions.

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