Abstract

As online university course offerings continue to rise, faculty members are seeking ways to enhance communication, connectedness and collaboration between participants. Student-teacher and student-student interactions in purely asynchronous distance learning courses are much lacking compared to similar interactions found in face-to-face teaching, potentially causing learners to experience feelings of isolation, thus reducing motivation and increasing dropout rates (Boulos, Tayor, & Breton, 2005). This paper explores the potential for the use of audio files to supplement online text materials in an attempt to provide a simple and effective method for helping students to feel connected in the online classroom.