The federal US Department of Education (DoE) regulatory definitions of distance education require that institutions ensure regular and substantive interaction (RSI) between a student and an instructor. UAA faculty are already "present" in their online courses, but how does the Department of Education define it?

Regular

• instructor-initiated interaction happens weekly

• interaction is scheduled and predictable

• instructor monitors student performance and reaches out to students who are struggling

Substantive means that the instructor engages students by doing at least two of the following:

• Providing direct instruction

• Assessing or providing feedback on a student’s coursework

• Providing information or responding to questions about the content of a course or competency

• Facilitating a group discussion regarding the content of a course or competency

• Other instructional activities approved by the institution’s or program’s accrediting agency 

RSI is Good Teaching

Interaction between an instructor and students is essential to learning.  Regular and substantive interaction is a specific federal requirement for online “no set time” courses that is based on best practices in online teaching. Online instructor presence means being active and visible in your course in meaningful ways (Columbia University, 2013).  The Community of Inquiry Model describes three types of presence: teaching, social, and cognitive presence (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2000). 

RSI Syllabus Statement

Your syllabus should clearly state that the course has no set meeting times. Include an RSI statement on your syllabus to explain to students how you will provide regular and substantive interaction. Review the sample syllabus statements below for ideas.

1. This course is fully asynchronous and has no set meeting times; you will have course activities and due dates throughout the term. I will substantively interact with you through regular [class discussion boards, announcements that provide class feedback and direction, individual feedback on your projects, and optional study sessions]. Update the section in brackets based on your course design. (UAA sample RSI statement)

2. In this course, I will be available for students during scheduled office hours. I will also spend time each week facilitating discussions about course content, providing substantive feedback on assignments, responding to questions about the course, and posting announcements pertaining to the course content. (adapted from Yavapai College Statement on Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) in Online Courses) 

3. As your instructor, I plan to interact and engage with each of you on a regular basis throughout the term to support your learning. I will provide direct instruction related to the course’s learning objectives, respond to your questions, grade and/or provide feedback on your submitted coursework, post regular announcements, and engage in the course discussion areas regarding academic course content when appropriate. (OSCQR SUNY)

RSI Self-Assessment

The intent behind "regular and substantive interaction" is for faculty and students to have meaningful interactions in online classes throughout the entire course. You may find one of the following documents useful for self-assessment.

• TEMPLATE: Documenting RSI Form  (OSCQR/SUNY)

• RSI Self-Review Template (UAA)