Many of today's college students lead busy lives. About 70% of full-time college students are working full- or part-time, and many of them have families to care for as well. For these time-constrained students, the flexibility of asynchronous classes in an online learning environment is ideal. However, this poses a challenge when it comes to forming connections with classmates. Missing out on the social aspects of a college education—from casual interactions in the campus dining hall to planned events like Homecoming, concerts, and athletic games—can be incredibly disappointing.
Despite these challenges, socializing with classmates is still an important factor in any college education. When students build relationships with their peers, they're also building a support network that can extend into a professional network in the future. While there is no way to replicate these experiences online, there are steps students can take to make stronger connections with their classmates:
Maximize discussion boards. Practically all online courses require students to engage in online discussions through a learning management system like Canvas or Blackboard. While students should stay focused on using these discussion boards for their intended purpose—to discuss and apply the course content—they can also use the opportunity to learn a bit more about their classmates.
Engage in social media. Some instructors and colleges are dedicating time and resources to social media. Students may want to research whether their schools are involved in social media interactions, and if so, to get involved. This provides another safe way to interact with other students and develop friendships.
Participate in collaborative learning projects. As challenging as group projects may be—in real time or in an online environment—they are also a chance to get to know classmates. Embracing the use of web conferencing apps, collaborative projects, and virtual study groups just may be the key to an active online social life.
Join or start a student-led club or organization. At some online educational institutions, such as Arizona State University, students have already created peer-led organizations, usually with the purpose of creating networking and professional development opportunities for students with common interests. These groups typically hold online meetings, frequently featuring guest speakers, such as faculty members and other professionals. Joining such a group creates yet another way to meet like-minded students.
Online students will need to make more of an effort to connect with others digitally, but it is possible to meet people and develop friendships, even in an entirely online learning environment.