"Student engagement refers to the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that students show when they are learning or being taught, which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their education" (Student Engagement, last accessed 19.06.2023).
Online students are not per se integrated in a study community and need explicit reminders and motivation to keep up with the course. Carefully crafted learning activities, interactions and a considerately designed learning environment support students to keep up with the course, when studying remotely can be isolating. Make sure you address information explicitly and communicate clearly, even though you would have otherwise relied on students “just knowing”.