Fostering Engagement and Community in Online Higher Education Programs to Combat Social Isolation

Abstract

Throughout the world, people are becoming increasingly isolated from each other, resulting in serious mental and physical health consequences. The increased role of technology in our lives and the COVID pandemic have exacerbated this trend. The pandemic forced most educational institutions online, resulting in a massive experiment on remote learning. Post-pandemic, many institutions have kept online programs in part or full. Though these programs have become effective modes of learning, students can feel isolated from lecturers and peers. This chapter argues that there are many ways that online program designers and lecturers can improve engagement among students to build a learning community and decrease isolation. Module structure, carefully planned learning activities, relationship building, support services, and increased cultural capacity can transform online learning from a solitary experience into a diverse and rich communal one, which can have profound effects on both learning and health outcomes.