Abstract:

Today, students can graduate from an institution of higher education without ever setting foot on campus. While blended learning and virtual spaces are fostering new opportunities for students to engage and form communities, simply providing these spaces is not enough. This article will illuminate various approaches and creative strategies that can be employed to help strengthen student relationships to their institutions and to each other through blended learning environments. Student engagement with faculty, peers, administrators, and the campus community are indicative of overall student success and sentiment about virtual learning spaces. Nurturing student engagement, through mentoring, networking, and advising should not be an afterthought, but rather integrated into every aspect of programmatic endeavors. As students are increasingly made to navigate both geographical and virtual worlds throughout their academic career, technology and mobility are two constants in their lives. The Masters of International Relations Online Program in the School of International Service at American University in Washington, DC, recognizes the importance of employing a myriad of technologies and approaches to foster student engagement and serves as a case study of best practices.

Keywords:

Student engagement, blended learning, virtual communities, technology, mobility.