Creating Community in an Online Grad program

My first experience in graduate school had some distinct differences from this online experience. The first program required my physical presence, and with that presence came the joy of meeting new friends and colleagues. Some of those friends I still have today. I would see the same people in the book store that I saw in class and waiting for lunch and out of the close physical contact came new friends and a community. There was comfort in that community. I knew who could show me the painting technique that the professor had demonstrated, but that I had not fully understood, by stopping by the Scene Shop in the late afternoon. I knew if I went for a bagel there was a good chance that I could visit with a professor and get a question clarified. There were spots where students congregated and I learned which place suited which need I had at any given time. These were my friends, my community.

I know where to get instructions that the professors leave online.  But how do we build community online? 

There are some assignments that seem to build community better than others. Most of the assignments require some online interaction and they certainly build communication skills. But I do not always walk away feeling I have community or friendship from team events. And yet I feel I have at least one person that I would say is a good friend from the program and numerous friendships that are building, so clearly even online friendship and community are possible. In my case, building the start of my little community has started the way it did with my last graduate experience. Stopping during assignments to say " How is it going?" "Did you find that (whatever it is) to be difficult too?" and "Can you help me with this, I am lost."

Community online is built the way all community is built, one interaction at a time. And just like real life, we may not end up being friends with everyone we meet, but we won't know till we put the time in to see.