John Bellotti
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Challenge: In asynchronous courses, students often feel isolated.
Discussion boards are structured. Interactions are required. But a real connection? Rare.
The human moment
John shared a moment from an online accounting course that changed how he viewed engagement. The conversation started normally and stayed focused on the topic. Then it drifted. Students started recognizing each other. They talked about personal things… even dogs. At first, it felt like it had gone completely off the rails. But as he kept following the conversation, what happened next was unexpected.
Those personal connections led students back to the topic, with more context, relevance, and depth than before.
As he put it: “This is kind of like an in-classroom conversation… but there’s no classroom.”
The proof
- Students formed connections that wouldn’t happen in structured forums.
- Conversations evolved beyond the original topic.
- Real-world experiences enriched the conversation.
- Engagement became organic instead of required.
- Students don’t engage because they’re told to.
- They engage because they feel connected.
- And sometimes, that connection starts in unexpected places.
- Faculty: Don’t shut down side conversations too quickly
- Instructional Design: Design for connection, not just structure
- Student Success: Look for signals of belonging, not just participation.
- Online Programs: Recreate the human moments missing in async learning
