Tips for communicating with students in online classes

Regardless of whether classes are held in person or online , it is extremely important to provide students with regular opportunities to address their questions and concerns with the teaching team. Such moments allow not only to clarify the course content, but also to build a relationship of trust between students and teachers. Many university components, faculties, centers or departments, have their own prescribed policies regarding mandatory consultations, so it is always a good idea to check with the dean or department head to see if there are any specific guidelines that need to be followed.

Consultations can be organized in different ways. In the traditional form, it is a pre-arranged time when the teacher receives students in person in his office. In modern education, it is equally acceptable to organize consultations via online video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams , Jitsi Meet or BigBlueButton. In this way, consultations become available to students who are physically distant, thereby expanding equality of access, and by the way, if possible, recordings of consultations are made and are available to those students who were not able to attend them.

It is important to inform students clearly and in a timely manner about the consultation times. It is best to send an email or post on the learning platform (e.g. Moodle LMS), with the precise date, time and access instructions. Being consistent in maintaining the same consultation days and times throughout the semester helps students plan their time and know in advance when they can contact you.

At the same time, it is important to be flexible and understanding of student commitments. Sometimes the offered times will not suit everyone, so it is useful to leave the possibility of arranging alternative times, for example for students who work, study multiple courses or are in different time zones. A combination of clarity, consistency and a willingness to compromise is the best way to ensure that consultations become a valuable support for students throughout the course.