How Social Interactions Can Make Your Course Way More Effective 

Have you ever felt a sense of disconnection among the students in your online course? Lectures might be polished, and content comprehensive, but there’s still a nagging sense of something missing. The magic ingredient? Social interaction. 

Studies show that students in collaborative learning environments score 25% higher than students in traditional lecture settings. 

Think back to your own learning experiences. Didn’t those lively discussions, brainstorming sessions with peers, and one-on-one chats with teachers solidify your understanding and fuel your motivation? With social learning, your online courses can replicate that magic and today we will show you how.

The Power of Social Learning

Unlike traditional learning where knowledge flows primarily from teacher to student, social learning emphasizes a collaborative and interactive approach. Students in social interaction-based learning, actively participate in discussions, work together on projects, and get to share their perspectives. It’s like building knowledge together, brick by brick, through shared experiences and active engagement, leading to a deeper and more meaningful learning journey.

Here are some captivating social learning methods for online courses, but don’t limit yourself to these only – the possibilities are endless!

• Lively Group Discussions: Imagine students delving into complex topics through interactive debates, fueled by diverse perspectives. 
• Peer Feedback Workshops: Students learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses by providing constructive feedback on projects and assignments. 
• Collaborative Projects: Teamwork makes the dream work! Students tackle real-world challenges together, honing communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. 
• Engaging Q&A Sessions: Students get their questions answered in real-time, clearing up doubts and deepening their understanding. 
• Vibrant Social Media Groups: Extending the learning beyond the platform! Integrating groups along with your course, can foster a sense of community and ongoing engagement.

Benefits of Social Interaction in Online Courses

The more that students are invested in, leading to higher completion rates and happier learners. We’ve established the power of social interaction in online learning. But how does it translate into concrete benefits for your online course? And which are the features that you should target to have on your website to achieve this?

Deeper Dives with Diverse Perspectives: Imagine a student struggling with a complex concept. In a traditional setting, they might muddle through alone. But in a course buzzing with interaction, things are different. Social networking features like Activity Feed can become a launching pad for discussion, where classmates offer insights and alternative interpretations. Suddenly, that knotty concept unravels. Students exposed to diverse perspectives are 20% more likely to critically evaluate information and 15% more likely to develop empathy for others.

From Isolation to Community: Remember the dreaded feeling of being lost in a sea of faces during a lecture? Features like group functionalities and messaging foster collaboration, allowing students to tackle projects, brainstorm solutions, and share experiences. This creates a sense of belonging, motivates them to stay engaged, and transforms your course into a vibrant learning community. According to research by The Center for Teaching and Learning at Stanford University, students who feel a sense of belonging in their online courses are 80% more likely to report feeling motivated and engaged.

Sharpening Skills in the Social Forge: Collaboration isn’t just about making friends (although that’s a nice bonus!). It’s a potent skill-building exercise. As students work together on courses based on social learning methods, they hone their communication skills by explaining ideas and seeking feedback. They tackle problems collectively, developing critical thinking and problem-solving prowess. 75% of employers say that collaboration and communication are the most important skills they look for in new hires. By the end of your course, your students won’t just have mastered the content, they’ll have acquired valuable real-world skills forged in the social fire.

Completion Rates Soar on the Wings of Connection: Let’s face it, course completion rates can be a stubborn foe. However, research shows that social interaction acts as a potent elixir. Studies reveal a strong correlation between active engagement and seeing a course through to the finish line. Gamified interaction elements in online courses can increase completion rates by up to 30%. By employing Post & Comment Reactions features, encouraging active participation through prompts and gamification features, and fostering a supportive environment through public recognition of the Activity Feed feature, you can create a course more engaging and effective. 

Turning Theory into Practice: Your Action Plan

Now, let’s move from theory to practice. How can you harness the power of social interaction in your course? Here are some actionable tips:

For Instructors

• Spark discussions: Create spaces on your website and use them to share thought-provoking questions, and leverage gamification to incentivize participation in such discussions.
• Embrace collaboration: Create projects that require teamwork, utilize BuddyBoss group functionalities to streamline the process, and offer clear guidelines for collaboration.

• Be present and responsive: Answer student queries promptly via messaging, participate in discussions, and show genuine interest in their learning journey.
• Celebrate success: Recognize and publicly acknowledge student achievements on the Activity Feed, boosting morale and fostering a sense of community.

For Students

• Dive into discussions: Actively participate in forums, respond to peers’ posts, and constantly share your comments and reactions to provide feedback and encouragement.
• Embrace peer learning: Offer constructive feedback on projects, engage in collaborative activities, and learn from your peers’ strengths and weaknesses.
• Master the communication tools: Use group messaging and any other group spaces effectively to connect with peers, ask questions, and share ideas.
• Build your network: Connect with classmates to create a supportive learning community that motivates you and enhances your learning experience.

Leveraging BuddyBoss’s Social Networking Features

Having powered thousands of successful online course platforms, we at BuddyBoss, know how effective social learning can be. It goes beyond the traditional by offering unique features that enhance social interaction. That’s why we offer a range of features to increase social interaction among the students and we are constantly bringing new ways. Some of the ways you can keep your students engaged on BuddyBoss-powered online learning platforms are:

• Post & Comment Reactions: Encourage instant feedback and appreciation through emojis and icons, creating a more positive and interactive learning environment.
• Activity Feed: Imagine a dynamic hub where students see course updates, peer achievements, and discussion prompts, keeping them engaged and connected.
• Messaging: This helps you to facilitate one-on-one or group discussions where students can brainstorm ideas, seek help, and build deeper connections.

Conclusion: The Power is in Your Hands

Social interaction isn’t just a trend; it’s a game-changer in online learning. By fostering connections and collaboration within your online course, you create an environment where students not only grasp concepts but also thrive. They develop essential skills, forge meaningful connections, and discover the joy of shared learning.

Ready to unlock this potential? Employ the ways to interact on your online course to make your course more effective than ever. You can also explore BuddyBoss to learn more about the unique social networking features like the Activity Feed, Messaging, Gamification,Post and Comment Reactions which are proven to boost interaction in online courses. 

I hope you have found this blog helpful. If you have any questions regarding BuddyBoss’s social networking features or social learning as a whole, let me know in the comment box below.

Author Faisal Sarker Faisal is a tech writer and marketer. Apart from writing useful content that help people around the world, he also likes to travel and read books of all genres in his leisure time.