Getting to know you: The first week of class and beyond

The first week of class...whether on-campus or online, we always plan a few orientation and get-to-know-you activities in an attempt to get our courses off on the right foot. One thing we have learned about these types of activities is that they cannot—and should not—take place only during the first week of a class. To really support students and help build a productive online learning community, these types of activities need to occur throughout the semester. Below are a few activities we have used to help students get oriented to and familiar with the course structure and materials, their course colleagues, and us.