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Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) in Online Asynchronous Courses

RSI (Regular and Substantive Interaction) means frequent, consistent, and meaningful instructor–student engagement that is academic in nature. It distinguishes Distance Education from Correspondence Education and supports student success through active teaching presence, guidance, and feedback. 

Effective RSI is built with three pillars each week: Announcements, Feedback (individual and group), and Facilitation of student interaction. 

Regular and Substantive Interaction Requirements for Fully Online Asynchronous Courses: 

Initiated Interaction:

Instructors proactively reach out to ensure students access materials, comprehend content, and participate regularly. Include opportunities for community building and use appropriate Canvas and third-party tools to support instructor–student and student–student interaction. 

Examples:  

Weekly course announcements or check-ins; personalized feedback on assignments; discussion facilitation or guided reflections; short summary messages reviewing progress or key concepts. 

Frequency of Contact:

Engagement should be predictable throughout the term and aligned with the course length and content. 

Instructors should clearly inform students how often they can expect to hear from the instructor and through which communication methods (e.g., individual feedback on assignments, discussion replies, course announcements, or group messages). 

The expected frequency and method of contact should be stated in the syllabus and reinforced in the course orientation or welcome message. 

Recommended weekly rhythm: 

At least one course-wide communication (announcement or weekly summary) and at least one type of feedback (individual or group). 

Interrupted Contact 

When unavoidable interruptions occur (e.g., illness), notify students via announcement and/or email with the expected duration. If the interruption lasts four or more working days, notify the supervising administrator. 

Types of Contact:

Instructors should consider using a variety of communication channels to establish and maintain regular and substantive contact. These channels may include but are not limited to: 

Instructor-Initiated Communication 

  • Announcements 

  • Orientation and review sessions 

  • Weekly wrap-up or summary messages 

Feedback and Assessment 

  • Timely feedback on assignments 

  • Personalized comments or brief audio/video responses 

  • Group or individual meetings 

Facilitation and Student Engagement 

  • Discussion forums and peer interaction 

  • Office hours (virtual or in-person) 

  • Video conferencing (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Pronto, etc.) 

  • Course messaging and email 

Best Practices

  • Include a clear communication policy in your syllabus (channels + response time). 
    Example: “Replies within 24–48 hours, Mon–Fri, excluding holidays.” 

  • Plan a weekly structure built on: 

  • Announcements (guide and motivate) 

  • Feedback (individual and group) 

  • Facilitation (foster peer interaction) 

  • Maintain a general Q&A discussion and consider optional synchronous Q&A or virtual office hours. 

  • Collect student feedback at midterm and end of course. 

  • Use Canvas-integrated tools that support engagement and accessibility. 

  • Network with online-teaching colleagues (DETC meetings) and attend DETC FPD events (see Cornerstone). 

  • Explore free learning via @ONE (Online Network of Educators). 

Instructors are encouraged to regularly network with colleagues who teach online and consider attending the DETC meetings (check AVC DETC website for schedule). Sharing knowledge, new ideas, and reviewing colleagues’ course design is best practice for all online instructors. 

DE faculty should consider attending the FPD events offered by the DETC throughout the academic year (schedule is available on Cornerstone), as well as referring to the Technical Training Canvas shell.  

A simple weekly structure for Regular & Substantive Interaction (RSI) in asynchronous courses 

 

Announcements 

  • Provide weekly communication to guide and support students. 

  • Include updates, reminders, encouragement, or overviews of upcoming topics. 

  • Keep contact predictable and proactive. 

 

Individual Feedback 

  • Respond to individual student work regularly. 

  • Offer personalized feedback via assignment comments, messages, or short videos. 

  • Address progress, strengths, and areas for improvement. 

    

Group Feedback 

  • Summarize class performance and common learning trends. 

  • Share weekly wrap-up messages with key concepts and clarifications. 

  • Reinforce major takeaways and provide collective encouragement. 

 

Facilitation 

  • Foster academic interaction among students. 

  • Moderate discussions, guide group projects, and connect student ideas. 

  • Encourage meaningful peer participation. 

 

Weekly RSI Practice 

  • Each week, include at least one course-wide communication (announcement/summary). 

  • Include at least one form of feedback (individual or group). 

  • Together, these demonstrate consistent instructor presence and meet RSI requirements. 

 

Key Takeaway 

  • Keep it simple. Be present. Teach intentionally. 

 

 

Developed by the AVC Distance Education & Technology Committee (DETC) October 2025 

Reference: The RSI Cats by Moses Wolfestein (El Camino College)