The course communications design should allow the instructor to be present, active, and engaged with the students. Students should know that the instructor is approachable and will regularly interact with them.

Online courses should include interaction between the instructor and the students and between the students and the content. The degree and type of student-to-student interaction may vary with the discipline and the level of the course.

Examples of learning activities that foster the following types of interaction:

• Instructor-student (consider for ALL courses): Self-introduction; discussion postings and responses; feedback on project assignments; evidence of one-to-one e-mail communication, etc.
• Student-content (consider for ALL courses): Essays, term papers, group projects, etc. based on readings, videos, and other course content; self-assessment exercises; group work products, etc.
• Student-student (if appropriate): Self-introduction exercise; group discussion postings; group projects; peer critiques, etc.