A lot has been discussed on collaborative learning, open learning, teaching and learning in communities, student engagement and many other important topics when transitioning to online teaching, but how does one go on about putting all these concepts in practice? In reality it is a little trickier than one thinks, and there are challenges faced that create opportunities of course and if addressed, they will enable a smooth transitioning from traditional teaching to online blended learning and teaching. Student engagement is my number one challenge when teaching online, and I have faced it multiple times, especially the past year, when due to Covid-19 all teaching had to performed online. If one designs a new online course, building trust and comfort with each other is the ultimate goal. Engaging with students, learning how they perform best, what helps them and what not, and trying to fit into their shoes, will strengthen the trust between the teacher/facilitator and the learners. Let’s not forget though to set some rules of conduct from the beginning, so that everyone respects and follows a healthy collaboration. The facilitator plays once more the most important role in driving this collaborative learning. However, we, all teachers, and now designers and facilitators need some support to learn how to adapt to this new way of teaching.. thank you ONL We have to ensure group and personal feedback is given to students at frequent time periods, so that if any issues arise, they can be tackled early enough in the learning process. Additionally, a flexible and inclusive environment has to be built; sharing is caring! If learners understand the goal and structure of this course and that through collaboration and teamwork, they can learn more efficiently, this would motivate them to engage more. There are certainly more points to be addressed when designing an online course, but for me these are the foundation of a successful online blended course, which I am trying to improve in my current teaching.