I have that same question. All of my courses are instructed online (so I have no face-to-face contact with any of my students). When I first started in this position, I had a weekly scheduled "class" which took the form of a live chat room. I informed all students, and reminder emails were automatically sent out about the time of this "class". Since the majority of my students work, I didn't place this as being mandatory, but after having about 10 of these sessions to which no one ever checked it out, I stopped having these. I was unable to do a variety of tasks required for my job while monitoring this chat, and I felt that if no one came to this I amy as well cancel them.
I still get numerous phone calls from students when they have questions, but that is a one-on-one scenario.
I believe (and could be totally wrong) that a lot of students who take online learning had some issues in the school system (they were shy and didn't speak up; they felt like they couldn't keep up with the class, etc.) and they were attracted to the online learning because they wouldn't have to worry about those feelings.
The course I teach allows for mature students, and one of those students was nervous through the first bit and never wanted to call me. After she completed her first assignment for me, I posted her mark (which was 100%) and called her to personally congratulate her. That was when she opened up about how hard school was for her and that she would never ask questions. Now she will take the bull by the horns and if something doesn't make sense she contacts me right away. She is still the type of student that I could never ask to take part in a group chat setting.
As for recorded chats, I can say that from my experience the only video resources my students view are any that I have created as a supplemental to the learning. If I tell them that this a recorded chat with other students incvolved, it usually doesn't get viewed. I think this goes back to bad classroom experiences.
Thank you for starting this topic, Penelope! I look forward to hearing other points of view!!
