The Importance of Interaction
The Importance of Interaction
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As has already been mentioned, student interaction is one of the most important features of an online course. Opportunities for Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) must be included throughout a course.
Online -Not- Correspondence Course
In applying this principle, it is helpful to remember that you are creating an online (distance) course and not a correspondence course.
According to federal regulation (34 C.F.R. § 600.2 Links to an external site.), the main factor that distinguishes an online course from a correspondence course is student interaction. Review the chart below:
CORRESPONDENCE COURSE
Interaction in a correspondence course is limited, is not regular and substantive, and primarily initiated by the student.
Correspondence courses are typically self-paced.
ONLINE (DISTANCE) EDUCATION
Technologies in online (distance) education are used to to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the instructor and to support regular and substantive interaction among the students and the instructor, either synchronously or asynchronously.
Information in image derived from 34 C.F.R. § 600.2, emphasis added.
An online (distance) course must include RSI or it runs the risk of becoming a correspondence course. This type of interaction can can come in many forms and in the second module of this orientation (Part 2) we will address different ways to include interaction in an online environment.
➜ Review this document for more information on RSI and examples on how to incorporate it. Download Review this document for more information on RSI and examples on how to incorporate it.
>> The next section will discuss federal and university requirements as they relate to course content and credit hours.
MORE INFORMATION
- 34 C.F.R. 600.2 § Definitions Links to an external site..
- Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Distance Education and Traditional Off-Campus Courses Section 3.17 Links to an external site.
Photo by NESA by Makers Links to an external site. on Unsplash Links to an external site.