In the article “Examining the Tie That Binds: The Importance of Community to Student Success in Online Courses,” University of Alabama professor Claire Major argues for the critical role community plays in online student achievement and persistence.
She draws on prominent frameworks like the community of inquiry model and the Classroom Community Scale, as well as empirical findings, to make the case that intentionally fostering community addresses issues like isolation and creates the conditions for greater student satisfaction, engagement and academic success.
The article makes the case that community is the essential tie that binds online students together and to the institution, enabling greater persistence, satisfaction, engagement, collaboration and learning. Major covers the following topics:
- Defining Community
- The Impact of Community
- Strategies for Building Community
What specific recommendations are offered for instructors, students and administrators to intentionally build community?
Major suggests that promoting community in online courses requires intentional efforts from various stakeholders.
- Institutional leaders can facilitate institutional learning, prompt effective decision-making, offer professional development and personalize marketing efforts.
- Instructors can be present, intentionally create social presence, establish a communication plan, encourage interaction, build “third spaces” for informal interactions and remind students of their connection to the larger institution.
- Students, in turn, can make affective, interactive and cohesive connections to enhance social presence and community.
In conclusion, Major argues that community serves as the binding force in online courses, essential for student success and learning. Recognizing its importance, it is critical to create intentionally designed environments and activities that foster engagement and social relations.
The collaborative efforts of institutions, faculty and students can cultivate a sense of community in online education, ultimately contributing to improved student success and learning outcomes.
Major, C. (2022). Examining the tie that binds: The importance of community to student success in online courses. Journal of Postsecondary Student Success, 1(4). https://doi.org/10.33009/fsop_jpss131190