Regular and Substantive Interaction Guidance

Substantive interaction is defined as engaging students in teaching, learning, and assessment, consistent with the content under discussion.

Regular interaction is defined as instructor-initiated contact with students that is consistent, scheduled, and predictable.  

The policy further explains that RSI should be present in all online courses in the following ways:

1. There must be at least two forms of substantive interaction including but not limited to: 

• Providing direct instruction
• Assessing or providing feedback on a student’s coursework
• Providing information or responding to questions about the content of a course
• 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

2. An institution ensures regular interaction between a student and an instructor or instructors before completion of the course by: 

• Providing the opportunity for substantive interactions with the student on a predictable and regular basis commensurate with the length of time and the amount of content in the course 
• Monitoring the student’s academic engagement and success and ensuring that an instructor is responsible for promptly and proactively engaging in substantive interaction with the student when needed, based on such monitoring, or upon request by the student

Of course, including regular and substantive interaction in online courses is more than a federal requirement. It is also a hallmark of effective teaching and learning. Research shows that teacher presence is critical to student success in online courses (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2000).

RIT’s Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) has developed an Online Course Design Checklist (OCDC) that includes RSI components to support successful course design and delivery. We strongly encourage any faculty teaching online to reach out to the Center for course design guidance.