Feelings of Isolation

Students and professors participating in online learning rarely, if ever, meet each other face to face. This may cause a student (or professor), to feel as though they are not truly connected with their classmates or students. Here are some tips to stay in touch with those in your class, and to build productive learning relationships.

• Make use of your UR Email. Email classmates regularly, even if you don't have a class assignment. Its an easy way to keep in touch, or send files to each other.

• There is often a "roster" section of your BlackBoard class. You can use this section to look about student homepages. The BlackBoard homepage feature is a "mini-homepage", where you can let people know what you're all about. You can even upload a personal picture and add links.

• Download Instant Messaging software to your computer. Its a great way to communicate in "real time" about projects, or whatever you might want to talk about. Both AOL and Yahoo have free software. Or your computer operating system might come bundled with an instant message program.

• Consider purchasing a webcam. Consumer Reports is a good website to review your different options webcams, (or anything else you might want to buy for that matter.) Your BlackBoard class may have a live video chat option, and its a great way to "put a face with the name."

-- MichaelVoigt - 21 Apr 2005