One of my favorite ways that higher ed has evolved since I was a student is that class has become much more interactive. This is particularly great since a strong classroom community and sense of connection with and between students can be a deterrent for inappropriate AI use and also a way to reach students left behind. Unfortunately a strong classroom community doesn’t just happen – it needs to be intentionally cultivated and nurtured. What that looks like will vary depending on what you teach and your personality (if you are an introvert like me, check out Geeky Pedagogy by Jessamyn Neuhaus), but below are a few suggestions along with a recommendation or resource to get you started for each:
Look for opportunities to show that you are invested in each students’ success in the class
Encourage interactions between students by incorporating active learning activities that require them to work together
Lecture Breakers Podcast by Barbi Honeycutt, Ph.D. (Check out Episode 140)
Set students up for success on group projects
Look for opportunities to provide encouragement and foster connection throughout the semester
Include a “Get to know you” survey at the beginning of the semester where the students can share relevant information with you (do they work? Participate in athletics? Interests or hobbies? Information that would help you teach them more effectively? etc)
Use tools like “Message students who” in Canvas to quickly reach out to a group of students. This could be a reminder to students who are missing work or a pat on the back to students who did well on an assignment.
How Does This Work?
Changing the classroom dynamic to focus on relationships can impact in a variety of ways. Switching from the “sage on the stage” model to “guide on the side” results in a connection with students similar to a coach with their team. For example, an otherwise unmotivated student may put in the effort so as not to let the professor or their classmates down. A hesitant student might come to office hours if they know that their teacher is pulling for them and believes that they can succeed. Also, students are less likely to fall through the cracks when they have a teacher who knows them and is aware of their situation. Finally, while building relationships won’t necessarily solve the attendance issues happening today, they may help to reduce them. A student might be less likely to miss class if they know that the teacher cares that they are there and notices when they aren’t. If you want to learn more about this, the book Relationship-Rich Education: How Human Connections Drive Success in College takes a deep dive into all of the benefits of relationships in the college classroom.
But I’m So Tired…
If the thought of fostering relationships sounds exhausting, keep in mind that the goal isn’t to be your students’ best friend, and small gestures can mean a lot. Some examples:
If at all possible, learn and use each student’s preferred name with correct pronunciation (consider name tents for a large class).
If they miss 2 or more classes in a row, reach out and check on them (to see how they are doing and offer to help them catch up if possible - not to make them feel bad about missing work).
Recognize them for an insightful comment in class or give an encouraging comment about their growth or effort on an assignment or test.
If your “get to know you survey” revealed a common interest, engage with them on it.
Follow the sports teams that they are on and ask about a game or match.
It is surprising how small actions can have a large impact. Some faculty create a notecard for each student to help keep track of pertinent information. Alternately, Canvas has a notes column in the gradebook that you can use to record details about your students and have relevant information at your fingertips.
Also, you don’t need to do it all yourself. If you can foster relationships between the students in your class, that can take some of the pressure off of you. Simple activities like Think, Pair, Share are a great start, but you will probably want activities that allow students to get to know each other on a deeper level as well. I love the recommendations shared by Beth McMurtrie in her Teaching newsletter. When planning your classes look for ways for students to interact with a variety of their classmates (beyond the person in the seat next to them). Help them learn each other’s names and give them work that they can do collaboratively. Keep an eye on things to make sure that no one is being left out.
What About AI?
AI may not play a direct role in creating classroom community, but creating a classroom culture that is built on connection and trust should help students resist the temptation to use AI inappropriately. And if you are struggling to come up with ideas to help you build community, you could always ask an AI. Try the following prompt and see what you get. If you like any of the suggestions you can ask the AI for more details or ways to implement it for a specific topic.
Prompt:
You are a college professor teaching a course about [enter course description here]. You are looking for ways to increase the connection and interaction between the students in your classroom. What are some activities or assignments that you could use to build community? Give 10 ideas.
My Recommendation
Because active learning is a great way to foster community in the classroom, today I’d like to recommend the K. Patricia Cross Academy. Their blog posts always have useful information (check out You’ve Got This! Helping Students Expect to Succeed). But the best part of the site is their Techniques Video Library where they introduce a wide variety of active learning techniques with videos and resources to help you use them successfully.