3 Strategies to Help You Build a Thriving Virtual Student Community
Using Digital Communities to Connect Peers, Boost Engagement, and Improve Outcomes
Today’s students are often managing many other responsibilities alongside their academic commitments. Work, family obligations, and personal interests create a complicated balancing act. To accommodate, many choose the flexibility of online and hybrid learning. This approach is crucial to keeping non-traditional students active in higher education, however, it also comes with key challenges. Learning online can be isolating. Many students report no interaction with peers outside of required coursework and find it difficult to stay motivated when things get tough. Lack of close relationships can also impact a student’s sense of belonging which studies have shown can harm student success and retention. Institutions need to increase opportunities for peer-to-peer engagement, while still honoring the on-demand nature of learning at a distance.
To accomplish this, many institutions are opening up virtual communities for their students. These spaces are largely asynchronous, and provide a flexible location for students to connect with peers so they can ask questions, seek advice, and build relationships. In essence, these communities are replicating the casual conversations students experience naturally after class, in the courtyard, and in student unions. Digital communities can fill this gap, fostering a critical sense of camaraderie and reminding students that they are not alone in their academic journey.
When launching a peer community, there are a few key strategies to keep in mind that will help your space build momentum quickly, attract a wide variety of learners, and remain healthy as it grows over time.
Let Students Set the Tone
A simple, but often overlooked strategy is to engage your students in the design of the community from the very beginning. Whether you partner with an existing student leadership group or recruit willing volunteers, allow them to define community topics, set the rules for the community, and determine the community name. Doing so tells your learners that the community is truly for them. They will feel a sense of ownership and responsibility that will drive higher levels of participation from the start.
Keep it Simple
There is often a tendency to try and accommodate every possible topic or interest group you can think of in your community. The opposite is true. When students first join, they want to understand quickly and easily how to get involved. Too many options are overwhelming and will cause many learners to tune out. Moreover, we’ve found that many of the options provided aren’t needed, resulting in a lot of empty corridors in your virtual space. Instead, opt for a short list of topics. Try not to subdivide your students into groups (the more the merrier!). Wait to see how they really use the space and adapt the community design over time to align with their demonstrated needs.Stay Out of the Way
Communities come in all shapes and sizes, and the appropriate level of moderation will vary depending on the type of community you’re launching. For a student community, if you truly want to create a space for peer-to-peer engagement, the general rule is “less is more”. While periodic posts about upcoming events and high-priority announcements are helpful, too many posts from staff and faculty will cause your students to go quiet. They’ll begin to view the community as your space, not theirs, and will adjust their behavior accordingly. To help student engagement thrive, partner with your student leaders to play the role of moderators, taking the lead on initial posts and responses. This will encourage wider participation, faster growth, and more sustained participation over the life of your community space.
Digital student communities can play a valuable role in filling the social and support gap many students feel when learning at a distance. They offer casual, authentic ways for students to connect, build relationships, and support each other. Keeping in mind these three strategies will help ensure that your community thrives, and delivers the positive impacts on student engagement, success, and belonging that you hope to achieve.
Request a demo to learn more about the impact virtual communities can have at your institution.
Institutions using InScribe virtual communities: Western Governors University, Arizona State University, Indiana University Bloomington, Fort Hays State University, Kentucky State University, Miami Dade College, Rio Salado College.
About the Author
Katy Kappler, Co-Founder and CEO InScribe
Katy is an impact-driven CEO who has spent 25 years creating solutions that extend access to high-quality education for every student. She is the co-founder and CEO of InScribe, an innovative digital community platform that is proven to improve student outcomes, increase the sense of belonging, and scale support for non-traditional and underserved student populations. Leveraging her experience and strategic abilities, Katy specializes in ed-tech innovations, student success, and communities of belonging.
Katy’s work has received multiple CODiE Awards and was recognized in Fast Company’s list of Top 10 Most Innovative Education Companies. Katy graduated from Brown University and has an MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.
Email Katy: katy@inscribeapp.com