Building Virtual Community Online

Ellyn BuchananUniversity of MinnesotaSchool of Public Health

Executive Master of Health Care Administration (EMHA)

• Designed for employed executives, physicians, and health care professionals.

• Cohort model that blends online and on-campus coursework.

• Most coursework is online.• Students spend 30 days on

campus over 25 months.

http://www.sph.umn.edu/academics/programs/mha/

The Problem

Initial Solution

Redesign – EMHA Community

Redesign – EMHA Community

Redesign – EMHA Community

Our Key Components of Building Community

• Remove barriers (as best as possible, of course)

• Make introductions• Provide monitored and

unmonitored communication spaces

• Orient students early to online relationship building with group presentation assignment

Group Presentation Assignment

Future Directions

• Reevaluate content and activities as needed

• Solicit formal student feedback for improvement

• Further develop modules on ‘How to succeed as an online student’

• Integration into badging system

Thank You

Media Attribution

• Warning by Björn Andersson from the Noun Project• Community by Gregor Črešnar from the Noun Project• Conversation designed by Rudy Jaspers from the Noun Project• Cycle by Aaron K. Kim from the Noun Project• Community by Stephen Plaster from the Noun Project