• U-M
  • //
  • LSA
  • //
  • Department & Units
  • //
  • Majors & Minors
  • //
  • LSA Gateway
  • //
  • Knowledge base

for

  • I Need Help With...
    • Administrative Applications
    • Classroom Support & Training
    • Computer & Desktop Support
    • Equipment Loans & Reservations
    • iClicker
    • Lecture Capture
    • Media Center
    • Printing
    • Research Support & Tools
    • Teaching Remotely
    • Website Services & Support
  • Support
    • Support Hours
    • Getting Started with Technology Services
    • Walk-in Support
    • Access Controls
  • Services
  • Remote Resources
    • Learning Remotely
    • Teaching Remotely
    • Researching Remotely
    • Working Remotely
    • Study Spaces
    • Internet Access Services
  • U-M
  • LSA
  • Department & Units
  • Majors & Minors
  • LSA Gateway
  • Knowledge base
  • Support LSA
  • Course Guide

Search: {{$root.lsaSearchQuery.q}}, Page {{$root.page}}

previous | next
Skip to Content
LSA Technology Services
  • I Need Help With...
    • Administrative Applications
    • Classroom Support & Training
    • Computer & Desktop Support
    • Equipment Loans & Reservations
    • iClicker
    • Lecture Capture
    • Media Center
    • Printing
    • Research Support & Tools
    • Teaching Remotely
    • Website Services & Support
  • Support
    • Support Hours
    • Getting Started with Technology Services
    • Walk-in Support
    • Access Controls
  • Services
  • Remote Resources
    • Learning Remotely
    • Teaching Remotely
    • Researching Remotely
    • Working Remotely
    • Study Spaces
    • Internet Access Services

Search: {{$root.lsaSearchQuery.q}}, Page {{$root.page}}

previous | next

Substantive Interaction

  1. Services
  2. Learning & Teaching Consulting
  3. Instructional Strategies
  4. Online & Blended Teaching
  5. Substantive Interaction
  1. ...
  2. Substantive Interaction
    1. Services
    2. Learning & Teaching Consulting
    3. Instructional Strategies
    4. Online & Blended Teaching
  1. [X] close
  1. Services
  2. Administrative Applications
  3. BlueCorps
  4. Canvas Help & Support
  5. Classroom Support & Training
  6. Computer & Desktop Support
  7. Equipment Loans & Reservations
  8. Event Support & Media Tools
  9. Faculty Funding & Grants
  10. Immediate In Class Assistance
  11. Learning & Teaching Consulting
    1. Learning & Teaching Consulting Service
    2. Instructional Strategies
      1. Active Learning Framework
      2. Copyright and Intellectual Property
      3. Group Discussions
      4. Online Discussions
      5. Online & Blended Teaching
        1. Teaching Modes: On-site, Blended, Online
        2. Why Teach Online or Blended?
        3. What Makes A Good Online Course
        4. Activity and Interaction Hours
        5. Substantive Interaction
        6. Planning a Proposal for Teaching Online
      6. Team-based Learning
    3. Instructional Tools
    4. Learning & Teaching Seminar Series
    5. Teaching Tip of the Week
    6. Event Spotlight
    7. Faculty Spotlight
    8. Instructional Video
    9. Audio, Visual, & Graphic Design Tools
  12. Room Reservations
  13. Research Support & Tools
  14. Website Services & Support

Substantive Interaction

  1. Services
  2. Administrative Applications
  3. BlueCorps
  4. Canvas Help & Support
  5. Classroom Support & Training
  6. Computer & Desktop Support
  7. Equipment Loans & Reservations
  8. Event Support & Media Tools
  9. Faculty Funding & Grants
  10. Immediate In Class Assistance
  11. Learning & Teaching Consulting
    1. Learning & Teaching Consulting Service
    2. Instructional Strategies
      1. Active Learning Framework
      2. Copyright and Intellectual Property
      3. Group Discussions
      4. Online Discussions
      5. Online & Blended Teaching
        1. Teaching Modes: On-site, Blended, Online
        2. Why Teach Online or Blended?
        3. What Makes A Good Online Course
        4. Activity and Interaction Hours
        5. Substantive Interaction
        6. Planning a Proposal for Teaching Online
      6. Team-based Learning
    3. Instructional Tools
    4. Learning & Teaching Seminar Series
    5. Teaching Tip of the Week
    6. Event Spotlight
    7. Faculty Spotlight
    8. Instructional Video
    9. Audio, Visual, & Graphic Design Tools
  12. Room Reservations
  13. Research Support & Tools
  14. Website Services & Support

What is Substantive Interaction?

Federal regulations require “substantive interaction” between instructor and students for all online courses. Another way to think of this requirement is meaningful communication between instructor and student. The following guidelines are intended to help LSA instructors reflect on and build deliberate occasions for such communication into their courses.

Some examples of substantive interactions in online courses include:

  • Office hours, especially if several appointments over the term are a course requirement
  • Weekly announcements, either live or by video, that connect previous work to the upcoming week’s activities. Announcements can be created ahead of time and sent out through Canvas automatically.
  • Brief overviews of assignments, setting them in context and explaining expectations, either live, by video, or via a detailed rubric
  • Responses to discussion threads or detailed feedback on student work
  • Discussion or social board check-ins
  • Reviews or “round ups” of class discussions, and actively redirecting discussion where needed, whether they are synchronous or asynchronous
  • Polls during synchronous lectures, especially if the instructor discusses the results
  • Interactive videos with detailed feedback based on student responses to the interactive activities (quizzes, reflection points, etc.)

Guidelines for Substantive Interaction

1. Interaction initiated by instructor: Rather than wait for students to reach out, the instructor initiates communication themselves.

2. Initiation of interaction must be regular and frequent: Students should be able to expect some meaningful communication with the instructor each week. Creating a communication plan with specific times set aside for announcements, feedback, and discussions can be helpful in ensuring this. See below for a sample.

3. Interaction must be meaningful and academic in nature: Interaction is relevant to the projects/assignments, and conveys more information than a grade alone.

4. Interaction is proactive: The instructor monitors student progress and engages proactively with students to keep everyone on track.

The image below shows some of the most common interactions in fully asynchronous classes, and may help visualize what is considered substantive.

Repurposing In-Person Interaction

Substantive interaction isn’t new, of course. It’s something that instructors are already familiar with from in-person courses. Below you can find some common examples that could be re-purposed for online teaching with minimal changes: 

  • Walking around the classroom and checking on student discussion groups. (dropping in on breakout groups)
  • Meeting with each student individually during class or in office hours. (individual meetings during online office hours)
  • Demonstrating lab procedures and observing students in labs. (video demonstrations)
  • Using a live polling tool during class time. (interactive polls in lecture videos)
  • Providing personalized comments for an individual student’s assignment or exam. These comments can be written, audio or video comments. (no changes necessary)
  • Posting announcements, email, current events or social media check-ins about academic aspects of the class. (no changes necessary)
  • Creating small working/study groups that are moderated by the instructor or GSI. (visiting Canvas Group workspaces; synchronous discussion sections)

Communicating Expectations

A communications plan establishes when and how an instructor plans to interact with the class, and helps set expectations. This is especially important in an online course, as students may feel anxious without the opportunities for casual communication provided by classroom meetings.

Sample communication Plan:

To Students - How I Will Communicate with You

Contact time expectations

You can email me through Canvas or my Umich address at any time.  Please allow for a 24-hour response time Monday – Friday.

Announcements

I will be using “Announcements” and the Canvas inbox to communicate important course information and updates.  You may expect 1-4 such announcements each week. Check your Umich email regularly.

Discussion Comments

I will participate via comments and feedback on Discussion Boards during (TIMES/DAYS)

Recorded Lectures

I will post lectures on Canvas for you to watch and complete assignments based on them.

Synchronous Lecture

I will teach/lecture during our regular class time of (TIME) on (DAYs).

Attendance

I will be taking attendance; you will be expected to participate as though this class were still face to face. Your responses to live questions during lecture will be recorded using iClicker.

ABOUT

Office of the CIO
People
TS Gateway
Policies
Careers

NEWS & EVENTS

All Events
All News
Innovate Newsletter

HELP & SUPPORT

Getting Started with Technology Services
Knowledge base
Sitemap

TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

G155 Angell Hall, 435 South State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109–1003
734.615.0100
LSATechnologyServices@umich.edu 

LSA - College of Literature, Science, and The Arts - University of Michigan
  • Information For
  • Prospective Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Alumni and Friends
  • More about LSA
  • About LSA
  • How Do I Apply?
  • News
  • LSA Magazine
  • Give
  • Maps
  • Student Resources
  • Courses
  • Academic Advising
  • Majors and Minors
  • Departments and Units
  • Global Studies
  • LSA Opportunity Hub
  • Connect
  • Social Media
  • Update Contact Info
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Statement
  • Report Feedback
© 2023 Regents of the University of Michigan
Technology Services Contact Center Chat
Loading