Tips for communicating with students in online classes

The first step in designing high-quality teaching is to clearly define what it means to be a successful student in a course. Teachers must determine in advance what students need to do to meet expectations and pass the course and, based on this, develop a clear communication plan. It is essential to establish explicit guidelines regarding expected weekly activities, monthly milestones, and obligations distributed throughout the semester.

Students should understand how they are expected to participate in synchronous activities (e.g., live lectures, real-time discussions) and how to engage in asynchronous activities (e.g., forum discussions, assignment submissions, and peer feedback). It is equally important to communicate deadlines for major assignments, quizzes, and projects in advance, as well as the criteria for what constitutes high-quality and efficient completion of these requirements.