Regular and Substantive Interaction

Regular and Substantive Interaction

Under California regulations (Title 5 § 55204), the distance education portion of any class must include "regular and substantive interaction" (RSI) between instructors and students (and among students if described in the course outline of record). The regulations provide the following definitions:

• Substantive means engaging in teaching and assessment, consistent with the content in the course, and including at least two of the following:

  • Direct instruction

  • Feedback

  • Providing information or responding to questions about the course

  • Facilitating a group discussion

• Regular means predictable and scheduled substantive communication appropriate for the length of time and the amount of content in the course. It also means monitoring engagement and intervening when students need help (and responding when they ask for help)

Neither regulations nor our curriculum system dictate how to conduct RSI, and the details (which tool, etc.) are up to individual instructors. What is most important is that students know how their instructors will contact them, how frequently, and the best way for them to contact their instructors. If the course outline of record expects student-to-student RSI, students are more likely to be successful if those expectations are clear.

Effective instructional practices recommend a content page in the orientation module in Canvas that define the communication policy and practices for each class. The following additional resources can help instructors identify how they will use RSI to help their students succeed:

• ASCCC Curriculum Institute attendees' suggestions for RSI in practice

• Sacramento City College's Academic Senate guidelines