What is an Online Community and How to Effectively Build Student Cohorts as An Online Course Creator

What defines a community?

Communities are an inherent part of human existence. Online communities are the new center for innovation and learning as a result of the advancement of technology and the removal of geographic boundaries thanks to the internet. Online communities have operational rules, formal and informal positions, shared interests, and trust, just like “real-life” groups do, and these elements lay the groundwork for productive interactions. The responsibility of online communities to involve people in a long-term learning process is crucial. Building a community in online courses increases engagement. 

To learn more checkout Klatch’s best practice article How to Market an Online Course: Successfully Build a Community, Get Testimonials, and Utilize Influencer Marketing

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Why is a community so important?

• Even if a business has a formal learning platform in place, most employees learn outside of it by conversing with coworkers, watching them work, getting firsthand experience, and getting guidance from peers or superiors. We may expand and strengthen learning through informal encounters by formalizing these online communities. Include how this may impact Klatch facilitators and learners (these terms)
• It can be challenging to capture and transmit practical knowledge about executing a job through conventional training programs. Communities can help motivate staff to divulge useful knowledge that might otherwise go unused.
• Online learning communities can build a natural knowledge base and network of contacts that will benefit both the change to facilitators and learners or learners and Klatch etc. as a whole.

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How do I build a community for my learners?

• The roles of the instructors, peer instructors, group leaders, and individual learners should all be clearly defined within the group. Determine the functions and interdependencies of each role.
• Create smaller groups to allow for group work and collaborative activities. It will be ensured that group members can encourage and enhance one another by having a mix of experienced and novice students.
• Give students the option to establish personal profiles with images and key details about the subject at hand. These profiles can act as a conversation starter and a base for social learning to take off.
• Include etiquette rules for both online and offline situations. To achieve successful group and individual learning results, all learners must consent to adhere to the established norms.
• Encourage a buddy system by assigning two or more students to participate and contribute together in order to combat monotony and boredom. To spark the spirit of peer learning, encourage activities like creating case studies or commenting in the discussion area. Include a conclusion or key takeaways (can just be a quick paragraph)

For more information, visit 8 Examples of the Best Online Communities & Characteristics

Conclusion:

The concept of a community can be very important and how it can be applied to many different subjects outside your class. As an example, this would offer real-life skills to not just your students, but you as well on how to develop personal and professional communities. A total win-win! 

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