Module 2 Connecting With Your Professor & Peers

Introduction

group of students huddled around a laptop

Researchers and educators emphasize the importance of the social and cultural aspects of learning. Some believe that online courses provide a more democratic learning environment, where shy students are more likely to speak up, and everyone has more freedom and opportunity to express their opinions. Take the opportunity to connect with your classmates, and read the course introduction/syllabus to find out ways to interact with your professor or teaching assistant (TA). If you're unsure about what expectations your professor might have of you in an online or hybrid communication channel, the University has created a Zoom Etiquette guide that can help you out!

Don’t hesitate to contact your professor or TA when you need their assistance. Some professor offer face-to-face open student hours even when the course is online so be sure to identify how or when you can contact your professor during their office hours.

Strategies to Become Connected

Get to Know Your Professor
and Your Peers

Your professor will usually post a brief written or video introduction about themselves on the course site. Take this as an opportunity to learn about your professor expertise. The professor may also ask every student to post a self-introduction on the Discussion Forum. This assignment will allow people to get to know each other and to foster a sense of community.

Leverage Open Student Hours to
Your Advantage

Your professor may host optional open student hours and other opportunities to connect with them and your peers during the semester. Using these opportunities to connect synchronously live, remembering to abide by standard etiquette guidelines on Zoom. Synchronous meetings can facilitate connection in a way sometimes more challenging asynchronously. For best results during synchronous class sessions, ensure your device meets the minimum technology requirements to properly run Zoom and broadcast your camera and microphone.

Be Flexible And Proactive When Working On Group Projects

It is likely you will encounter one or more group projects while taking classes online. With many online courses being fully asynchronous, finding time to connect with your teammates synchronously can be a challenge. Use collaborative workspaces such as Google Docs, Slides, or Microsoft 365 to gather ideas asynchronously and plan accordingly and in advance for synchronous meetings. Remember that your peers are likely juggling other obligations professionally and academically, so schedule meetings in advance and be as flexible as possible!