Learning Community

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

• Consider creating an Introductions D2L Discussion and kick it off with your own introduction as an example (and community building from the start!).
• Prompt ideas:
  • Share a bit about your academic and professional background
  • Share any experience(s) you have had with topics that will be covered in the course.
  • Share what you hope to gain from this course.
  • Share an interesting fact about yourself.
• The D2L discussion tool allows for text, audio and video submissions
• As the instructor, you can subscribe to this discussion so you will know when new responses have posted.
• Here are some additional ideas for icebreakers for online classes

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

• Make it easy for students to ask questions, see the questions asked by their peers, and find the answers to all inquiries by having an "Ask Your Instructor" discussion that is easy to locate.

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

• Online learning should not be an isolated experience. Your course can be designed to:
  • build community by purposefully including regular and ongoing opportunities for students to interact with their peers and the instructor,
  • foster belonging and establish trust by exemplifying best practices in netiquette.
• OSCQR – Standard #39 – OSCQR – SUNY Online Course Quality Review Rubric
• OSCQR – Standard #41 – OSCQR – SUNY Online Course Quality Review Rubric
• This article about online discussions from the Online Learning Consortium proposes that "...the real goal (is): not simply getting students to post, but helping them feel present, purposeful, and connected in the digital classroom." Citation: Hierholzer, N. (2026, May 19). Bringing Life Back to Online Discussion Boards: Moving Beyond Compliance and Listening More Deeply to Students - Online Learning Consortium. Online Learning Consortium.

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.

Resource(s) and Consideration(s):

• OSCQR – Standard #43 – OSCQR – SUNY Online Course Quality Review Rubric

Note: If you have a resource you think would be a good example of this characteristic, please complete this form.