This session explores how to build an online community for distance learners through asynchronous orientation, virtual community spaces, program-specific resource sites, course onboarding materials, and giveaways, fostering connection and a sense of belonging in their online courses and the university as a whole.

Overview:
As online education becomes more prevalent, one challenge educators and administrators face is creating a sense of belonging and community among distance learners. While online learning offers flexibility and accessibility, it can leave students feeling disconnected from their peers and institution. This presentation focuses on practical and sustainable strategies to foster community and a sense of belonging in asynchronous online courses and programs. Through the use of virtual orientation resources, community and program-specific sites, and student-centered engagement activities, this session will demonstrate how to develop strong, supportive, and engaging virtual environments.

Relevance to the Community:
As institutions increasingly shift to online courses, the need for developing a sense of community is imperative. Online learners, especially those in synchronous environments, can feel isolated from their peers and the academic community. Without intentional efforts to create connection and engagement, students can become disengaged and feel isolated. This session is relevant to instructional designers, faculty, and administrators looking to address this challenge by providing replicable strategies for cultivating community and belonging in a virtual environment. By creating structured opportunities for students to interact and offering resources designed to engage them, institutions have the potential to enhance student satisfaction and overall learning outcomes.

Plan for Interactivity:
This session will include several opportunities for audience participation to engage attendees. The session will begin with an icebreaker activity, similar to those used in online courses, to demonstrate how engagement can start from the very first interaction. Attendees will participate in a real-time poll asking about their current challenges with creating community in online learning, followed by group discussions where participants will brainstorm additional engagement strategies.
Throughout the presentation, there will be live demonstrations of current resources being used by the presenters to create and sustain online communities, such as virtual orientation sites and community hubs. Attendees will also have the opportunity to share their own experiences and ideas for building community.

Takeaways:
By the end of the session, attendees will have a set of actionable strategies and best practices for fostering community and engagement in synchronous online courses. The key takeaways include:

1. How to Build Asynchronous Orientation Sites: Attendees will learn how asynchronous virtual orientations can serve as an introduction to the institution and help students build connections before classes begin.

2. Creating Virtual Community Spaces: Attendees will understand how to create virtual spaces where students can engage in non-academic interactions, access university resources, and stay updated on events and opportunities, leading to a sense of belonging.

3. Utilizing Program-Specific Resources: Attendees will see how program-specific virtual sites, where students can access detailed information about their academic programs, course offerings, and faculty/staff supports, help create a feeling of academic community and clarity.

4. Canvas Onboarding Content: Attendees will discover how embedding Canvas onboarding into course sites can help students become comfortable navigating the platform and reduce their learning curve, leading to smoother course engagement.

5. Creative Engagement through Giveaways and Incentives: The session will also showcase the effectiveness of using tangible incentives, such as university swag giveaways, to increase engagement and help students feel connected to the larger university community.

Attendees will leave with actionable strategies that can be adapted to their institution or program, as well as an understanding of how intentional community-building efforts can lead to a more connected and engaged student body in synchronous online environments.