1. BUILDING CONSTRUCTIVE
RELATIONSHIPS IN THE
ONLINE CLASSROOM
Dr. Roberta L. Fugett, Ed. D.
IndianaWesleyan University
February 1, 2014

2. Be Clear About Expectations
 Before the class begins, create an
announcement to welcome students and
state expectations.
 Clearly outline grading policy, attendance policy,
and participation policy.
 While these are generally outlined in the course
syllabus, it is wise to reinforce these policies prior to
a time when students are immersed within the
course.

3. Use the Information You
Receive
 Students, whether face-to-face or online, need to know
that the instructor cares to know them.
 Use the information from the introductory assignment to get to
know the students.
 In the past, education has sometimes been very dehumanized and
uncaring of human desires and dreams.
 Humanize the learning environment by exchanging stories,
information, and testimonies.
 The faculty forum would be an excellent place in the course to
accomplish this.
 As an instructor, I need to do more than to just get the job done.
 Be an out-of-the box thinker and hear what the students share and
share with them.
 Use the shared information to help group students together
when group assignments must be completed.

4. Care a Lot and Show It
 Kelly Middleton in his book Who Cares? quotes Dr.
Seuss," 'Nothing is going to get better, it's not'---
until we care 'a whole awful lot.' "

5. Let Your Students Get to
Know You
 Create a welcoming environment to allow
your students to get to know you as the
instructor.
 Post your biographical information.
 A recorded audio and/or video biography could be
posted so that more about experiences and
academic areas of concentration can be more
thoroughly shared.
 Make yourself available to the students via email.
 Set specific hours to be available in the virtual
classroom to meet with students to chat online.

6. A Key Aspect: Being Involved
in Participating in the
Course
 Be involved. Mentor, listen, and learn with the
students.
 Model polite and respectful interaction in order to
help your students to be the best that they can be.
 Take ownership in creating a collaborative
learning environment.

7. Be Positive When Giving
Feedback
 When giving feedback, begin with discussing
something about the student’s work that was
done well.
 Clearly state the grades earned and the
reasons for them.
 Use rubrics to guide the discussion when rubrics
are provided.

8. References
Edwards, T. (2005, September). Seven steps for providing constructive online discussion feedback successfully. Online
Cl@ssroom. Retrieved February 1, 2014 from
http://www.vcu.edu/cte/resources/newsletters_archive/OC0509.PDF
Fullan, M. (2008). The six secrets of change. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Middleton, K. & Petitt, E. (2007). Who cares? . Tucson, AZ: Wheatmark.
The Arbinger Institute. (2002). Leadership and self-deception: Getting out of the box. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-
Koehler Publishers, Inc.
Venable, M. (2012). 5 ways to build positive relationships with your online students. From OnlineCollege.org., retrieved
February 1, 2014 from http://www.onlinecollege.org/2012/08/15/5-ways-build-positive-relationships-your-online-
students/