Course Objectives

EL201 - Online Communication: Engaging and Retaining Online Learners

Research shows that supportive working relationships between students and institutional personnel are vital to student retention. For online students, these relationships are especially essential in preventing a sense of isolation and detachment from their academic experience. Because interactions with online students are most likely to occur via phone and email, developing retention-supporting relationships can be challenging. This course teaches online communication strategies that foster connection and engagement with online learners. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of (a) retention and attrition research, (b) online learning, and (c) technology’s unique role in both the relationship-building process and the online student experience.


Module 1: Linking Relationships to Retention

  • Explain the evidence-based relationship between communication and retention
  • Describe how communication contributes to campus climate
  • Evaluate the research that links campus climate to improved student retention
  • Define “working alliance”

Module 2: Understanding Online Learning

  • Compare and contrast the various forms of technology-enhanced instruction
  • Identify growth trends in online education
  • Examine perceptions of online learning including research about the “no significant difference” phenomenon
  • Define and describe characteristics of online students
  • Describe the 7 competencies of online learning

Module 3: The Role of Technology

  • Describe the key systems involved in the delivery of services to online students
  • Explain technology’s impact on the online student experience
  • Define technology-mediated communication and explain how it is unique in relation to face-to-face communication

Module 4: Online Communication Strategies

  • Utilize general communication strategies that foster connection and engagement with online students
  • Utilize basic text-based relational skills and explain their purpose
  • Utilize intermediate text-based relational skills and explain their purpose
  • Utilize advanced text-based relational skills and explain their purpose
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