How Do UT Instructors Build Connections and Community?

 

Below is a table that outlines online tools and strategies for building connections and community, organized by the kind of interaction. Click on the UT Snapshots to explore how instructors at UT have implemented tools and strategies to create effective interactions with and among their students. 

Kinds of Interactions

UT Snapshots

STUDENT with INSTRUCTOR

E-MAIL: Brenda Berkelaar (Communication Studies) uses Canvas Inbox as a way of maintaining interpersonal connections with her students throughout the course. 

ADOBE CONNECT: Michael Starbird (Mathematics) uses Adobe Connect Webinar to field questions throughout the course.

STUDENT with
STUDENT

PIAZZA: Jeff Hellmer (Music) uses Piazza to encourage students to ask questions and foster conversation that would benefit other students.

DISCUSSION BOARD: Madeline Maxwell (Communication Studies) uses Canvas discussions weekly to provide students with an opportunity to analyze a real life situation, and evaluate peer responses to the situation.

STUDENTS with CONTENT 

GOOGLE MAP MAKER: Shaherzad Ahmadi (History) demonstrates how you might use Google Map Maker as a way to connect students with content geographically, temporally, and aurally.

Additional Resources

Use the resources listed below as you think through how you will foster various types of interactions between and among students, you and the course content in your online class.

Tools and Technologies (Canvas Training Center)  Readings and Resources   Download Unit 4 Worksheet