Engagement in an online course comes in two primary forms: peer-to-peer interaction and instructor-to-student engagement. Both are essential for creating a connected, meaningful learning experience. Peer interaction—through discussions, group work, or peer reviews—helps students explore ideas collaboratively, develop communication skills, and see course concepts from new perspectives. Instructor engagement, on the other hand, builds trust, maintains motivation, and provides clarity through timely feedback, announcements, and visible presence in the course.

Balancing both types of engagement is key. When students feel connected to their classmates and supported by their instructor, they are more likely to participate, persist, and succeed. As an instructor, you can foster this balance by designing opportunities for interaction, setting clear expectations, and showing up regularly in your course—even asynchronously. The Trulaske Instructional Technologist can help you craft strategies that align with your teaching style while meeting quality standards for student engagement and interaction.

Engagement in an online course comes in two primary forms: peer-to-peer interaction and instructor-to-student engagement. Balancing these effectively creates an enriching learning experience.

Peer-to-Peer Interaction

Examples: Discussion forums, group projects, peer reviews, collaborative documents (Google Docs, Padlet).
Pros: Encourages community, promotes diverse perspectives, and fosters critical thinking.
Challenges: Students may struggle with accountability and contribution levels. Scheduling Issues

Instructor-to-Student Engagement

Examples: Announcements (consider embedding current events that have an impact on the content you teach), personalized feedback, live Q&A sessions, recorded video responses.
Pros: Helps students feel connected, provides clear guidance, and keeps learners motivated.
Challenges: Requires intentional effort to maintain presence without overwhelming students.

Balancing Both Forms of Engagement

A good strategy is to combine structured peer activities with regular instructor interaction. For example:

Assign weekly discussion prompts where students engage with each other, but also require instructor summary posts to validate learning.
Use automated but personalized messages in Canvas to check in on student progress.
Offer optional synchronous sessions to provide additional support while keeping core content asynchronous.

For a personalized consultation, please contact the Trulaske Instrutional Technologist, Angela Knoerr.