How do you build and maintain rapport and trust with your online co-teachers and students?

1 Define your goals and expectations

Before you start teaching online with other faculty members, it is important to have a clear and shared understanding of your goals and expectations for the course, the content, the pedagogy, and the assessment. Communicate openly and regularly with your co-teachers about the learning outcomes, the syllabus, the schedule, the roles and responsibilities, the feedback and grading criteria, and the potential challenges and solutions. Establish a common vision and a mutual respect for each other's expertise and perspectives.

2 Create a welcoming and inclusive environment

One of the key factors for building rapport and trust online is creating a sense of social presence and belonging among co-teachers and students. This means showing your personality, your enthusiasm, your empathy, and your interest in others. You can do this by introducing yourself and your co-teachers with videos, bios, photos, or icebreakers, and inviting your students to do the same. You can also use synchronous and asynchronous tools to facilitate interaction, collaboration, and feedback, such as Zoom, Padlet, Flipgrid, or Google Docs. Make sure to use inclusive and respectful language, acknowledge diversity and difference, and address any issues or conflicts promptly and constructively.

3 Engage in interdisciplinary dialogue and reflection

Another way to build rapport and trust online is to engage in meaningful and respectful dialogue and reflection with your co-teachers and students about the interdisciplinary nature of the course, the content, and the learning process. You can do this by creating opportunities for cross-disciplinary discussion, debate, synthesis, and application of the concepts, theories, methods, and evidence from different fields and perspectives. You can also encourage self-reflection and peer feedback on the interdisciplinary learning outcomes, skills, and competencies that students are developing throughout the course. By doing this, you can foster a culture of curiosity, inquiry, and appreciation for the value and relevance of interdisciplinary and collaborative teaching online.

4 Support and celebrate each other's success

Finally, building rapport and trust online requires supporting and celebrating each other's success as co-teachers and learners. You can do this by providing positive and constructive feedback, recognition, and encouragement to your co-teachers and students on their achievements, contributions, and challenges. You can also share your own successes, challenges, and lessons learned from teaching online with other faculty members, and seek their advice, support, and feedback. You can also create opportunities for celebrating and showcasing the interdisciplinary and collaborative work that you and your students have produced during the course, such as portfolios, presentations, publications, or exhibitions.