DLSF Online Learning Series – Student Engagement in Online Courses: From Content to Connection

Keeping students engaged in online courses is one of the biggest challenges instructors face. Unlike face-to-face classrooms, where energy and connection can build naturally, online learning requires deliberate design and facilitation to sustain motivation and interaction. Online instructors are most successful when they approach their courses as learning communities—spaces where students feel connected, supported, and invested in their own success.

This workshop will explore the foundations of student engagement in online education, including cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions. We’ll share tried-and-true tips and strategies for building meaningful interaction, reducing distance, and helping students stay focused and motivated throughout the course.