Conventions, Traditions, and Celebrations
Create Conventions & Traditions
When a diverse group of participants gather for the first time, whether face-to-face or online, the first step is to create and agree on social and academic conventions. How will we address each other? What is expected? How do I ask questions? What do I do if I have a problem? Obviously many of these questions will be answered during the first week of any class, but providing opportunities for participants to take part in this conversation can be the first step to building class culture.
Beyond the standard norms/rules/expectations of following netiquette, many successful facilitators incorporate more unique traditions and conventions in their classes. Some facilitators share a joke each week. Others have opening activities that turn into ongoing discussions. One facilitator asked each participant to take a picture of his/her shoe, and give a quick update on where that shoe has been lately. In that class, participants tended to keep a running (ha!) update on where the shoe had been lately. Another facilitator posts a "contest of the week" which sometimes asks for a resource or website connected to the topic of study, or for examples of the content in action. Duplicates are not allowed, so participants have to read all the other submissions if they participate.
These conventions, when incorporated in a culturally sensitive way, can lead to a sense of community and be a first step toward an online class "culture" that transcends heritage and location.
Celebrate everything!
Birthdays, babies, good days, student successes, whatever! Big to small celebrations are all good! Some facilitators add a discussion forum just for this purpose, though it fits in the break room just fine.