A learning community can play an important role in facilitating student learning in a class and this is especially evident for distance learning courses. Creating a learning community that is virtual requires the use of online communication tools such as email, threaded discussion boards, and chat rooms. Many online students also benefit through non-instructional activities that promote collaboration and discussion because social interaction can help to form a sense of community and therefore, reduce feelings of isolation often found in distance learning courses. The challenge the author faced when teaching a hybrid course for teachers in American Samoa last summer was to find the proper blend of online activities, instructional and non-instructional, that would help to build and maintain an online learning community. In this article, the author describes his experiences in teaching ETEC 442 Computers in Education as a hybrid course.