Encouraging more socialising on an Online course?

So my course has been online based and its a specialist programme.

It was originally 1-2-1 tuition with a lecturer for an hour a week, no other students, then it moved to a more structured class format, small groups online, 3 days a week for a few hours. Originally there was 4 of us.

It started off with regular structured lessons but it slowly turned to working on our own things and paces with 1-2-1 support during the sessions. All we do now is login to zoom, speak to the lecturer then get on with our work.

We never talked socially as a group, a few joking comments and a few collaborative class sessions. Nothing major. The original 4 have now left, claiming a lower qualification and I do regret never taking the initiative, especially as I found out after from our teacher 2 of them actually live fairly close to me.

Since September, there is now 8 new people, which fluctuates anywhere from the full amount to just 2-3 others each week. I have never directly spoken to any other student here and I really want to break the mould now, and try to make this a bit more social but its very difficult online.

I am not sure how to initiate this? Every week passes I tell myself I am going to break this mould but then I just don't because it feels awkward as its silent unless somebody speaks to the lecturer. I think people want to talk but they feel awkward too.

Best case scenario I would love to make friends with any of the others, but really just a more social outlook online would be nice. Ill be honest it does feel a bit "eh" when you haven't hardly said a word for 2 hours besides a 5 minute chat with your lecturer.

Any advice?

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