Strengths and Weaknesses

In the first week of 533, we were still finishing up Dr. Lichau's 532 course, so the differences between the two classes were immediately clear.
While Dr. Lichau seemed to favor teaching strategies that encouraged us to demonstrate a great deal of initiative and imagination, we relied heavily on small group dynamics and wider classroom discussion to foster an atmosphere in which ideas and opinions were exchanged energetically. We sometimes had to wonder precisely what it was our instructor wanted from us, but we were certainly free to seek out the answers we needed from her and the cohort.
In 533, the instruction we were provided was generally clear, especially to those who already had a foundation of understanding. But I believe many of us felt a sense of isolation from the rest of the cohort that was unfamiliar, especially for those of us who had never taken an online course. I wonder if more could have been done at the outset to encourage us to use the discussion feature as a way to create a support network.