Abstract
Interaction between instructors and learners is a critical element in the learning process during an online course (Moore 1993; Offir 2000). The desire to engage the students in meaningful and challenging interaction would appear to require an intensive time commitment by the faculty. This paper presents methods that not only engage the learner but also relieve the stress that time constraints place on the online instructor. In particular, examples from the Internet-based Master in Public Health Program of The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health will be used to illustrate these processes and techniques.