How can CBE foster a sense of community among students?

1 Define and communicate the learning outcomes

One of the key features of CBE is that it focuses on the learning outcomes, rather than the time spent or the activities completed. This means that students need to have a clear understanding of what they are expected to learn and demonstrate, and how they will be assessed. By defining and communicating the learning outcomes, you can help students align their goals, monitor their progress, and recognize their achievements. You can also use the learning outcomes as a basis for creating common ground, shared expectations, and feedback opportunities among students.

2 Create opportunities for interaction and collaboration

Another way to foster a sense of community among students in CBE is to create opportunities for interaction and collaboration. While CBE allows students to work at their own pace and choose their own learning paths, it does not mean that they have to work in isolation. You can design and facilitate activities that encourage students to interact with each other, such as peer review, group projects, discussions, or simulations. You can also leverage the diversity and expertise of your students, and allow them to share their experiences, perspectives, and resources with each other.

3 Provide support and guidance

A third strategy to foster a sense of community among students in CBE is to provide support and guidance. While CBE empowers students to take more control over their learning, it also requires them to be more responsible and self-regulated. This can be challenging for some students, especially those who are used to more traditional or structured learning environments. You can help students overcome these challenges by providing support and guidance, such as orientation, coaching, mentoring, feedback, or scaffolding. You can also create a supportive and inclusive learning culture, where students feel valued, respected, and encouraged.

5 Celebrate and showcase achievements

A fifth way to foster a sense of community among students in CBE is to celebrate and showcase achievements. CBE can provide students with more opportunities to demonstrate their competencies and showcase their portfolios. You can use these opportunities to celebrate and showcase achievements, both individually and collectively. You can also use these opportunities to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts, contributions, and feedback of your students. You can use various methods to celebrate and showcase achievements, such as certificates, awards, testimonials, or exhibitions.

6 Encourage and solicit feedback

A sixth and final strategy to foster a sense of community among students in CBE is to encourage and solicit feedback. Feedback is essential for learning and improvement, both for students and for instructors. You can encourage and solicit feedback from your students, both formally and informally, and both individually and collectively. You can also use feedback to inform and improve your CBE design and delivery, and to address any issues or concerns that may arise. You can use various tools and techniques to encourage and solicit feedback, such as surveys, polls, quizzes, or focus groups.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?