One of the great advantages of going to college is meeting new people and making friends that often last a lifetime. So how does that work in the online classroom? Is it possible to make friends when you never actually see your classmates?

I, for one, think it is possible, but I would certainly agree that it is different and more challenging. Even if you never meet the friends you make in person, I believe it is possible to connect with others and build rapport that equals friendship to some level, and at least make your online experience feel less isolated.

Synchronous and Asynchronous Discussions

When you are enrolled in an online class, you will most likely participate in discussion forums in one form or another. Some classes may have synchronous chat forums where students and instructor are online all at the same time chatting. Others may offer an asynchronous discussion format which consists of questions posed by the instructor and then students respond to the question as well as comment and respond to classmates’ posts.

Regardless of how this is set up and what methods your instructor uses to help build classroom rapport, you will have the opportunity to get to know your classmates through their posts and the chat room.

When you meet someone new, you often decide that you like the way he or she expresses himself or herself; you see some common ground in the way you both think  and you find yourself drawn to that person and would like to befriend them.

Take Your Discussion To the Chat Room

You should look for that same thing in the online classroom. As you are responding to each other in the discussion, you will like the way some people think and express themselves. Take the opportunity to become better acquainted in the chat room where the atmosphere and purpose is a little less formal.

You can talk sports, common interests, children – whatever it is that draws you to the other person, but you can also help each other with classwork and bounce ideas off each other regarding you upcoming assignments and projects.

So, find a buddy, get involved and make some friends in your online classroom!

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