Creating Activities that Engage Online Learners
Engaging students in the online classroom can be challenging, even for the most seasoned instructors. Without the benefits of in-person cues and interactions, it can be difficult to gauge student engagement and ensure active participation. However, thoughtfully designed activities can make all the difference in connecting with students and facilitating dynamic online learning.
This instructional guide provides research-backed methods for developing online activities that capture student attention, stimulate critical thinking, leverage collaboration, and maintain engagement from login to logout. The strategies and examples offered aim to help instructors of all technical skill levels incorporate new tools and teaching approaches into their courses.
Strategies to Promote Engagement in the Online Setting
Communication & Community
When teaching an online course instructor presence & communication are essential to student success. It is important to communicate often with students, work to provide students with opportunities to create community with one another, and also create clear expectations around all assignments and course objectives that you expect students to meet while navigating your course.
Canvas tools to use to communicate with your students:
- Announcements: Sending weekly announcements either in the form of video or text can provide wonderful anchors for students to know what they need to get done for the week and what they will be learning in the days ahead. It is also a great way to create an instructor presence in the virtual classroom.
- Utilize a template to create a consistent course homepage: Creating a clean polished look for courses can not only make your course look good but also show your students that you care that they are successful.
- Canvas Inbox: Email students frequently with course updates and provide them with a way to communicate with you.
- Canvas notifications: Have your students be sure to set up their course notifications so that they are notified when a new message is sent out or a deadline is approaching.
Communicating expectations of your learners:
When teaching online students are expected to take a more self-motivated role in their learning. To do this you, the instructor, has to make sure that expectations of learners and activities are clearly communicated.
- Revise your Syllabus to reflect your expectations. Make sure students understand your expectations around using Artificial Intelligence, citations in writing text, and assignment deadlines.
- Write detailed instructions in your assignment descriptions so students know exactly what is expected of them for each individual assignment.
- Set participation norms and digital citizenship for your online classroom. With online learning, it is important that you create what your expectations are around student communication and also remind students of the expectations of them as digital citizens to one another.
Creating Community in the Online Classroom:
Building a sense of community in an online course is vital to promoting student engagement and collaboration. When students feel connected to their classmates and instructors, they are more likely to actively participate in discussions, work together on group projects, and support each other in the learning process.
- Introduce yourself! Let your students know who you are. This can be done through:
- Recorded introduction videos (Using Flip or Canvas)
- Weekly overview videos embedded in each module
- Creating a getting-to-know-you discussion board
- Create social opportunities for students to connect:
- Create a social discussion board for students to chat with one another and share experiences. This can be done via video Slack, Padlet, or a Canvas discussion board.
- Host open office hours via Zoom for students to attend and ask questions.
Multimedia Tools That Can Be Used to Promote Student Engagement
The TC-approved tools listed below can be used to promote engagement in online classrooms. Each tool listed is accompanied by ways you can utilize that tool in your online classroom.
Discussion Tools
| Learning tool | Ways tools can be used |
|---|---|
| Flip: Video discussion tool |
|
| Padlet: Online bulletin board |
|
Annotation Tools
| Learning tool | Ways tools can be used |
|---|---|
| Perusall: Online annotation tool |
|
| Harmonize: Online annotation tool |
|
| Screenpal: Video recording tool |
|
Graphic Design and Presentation Tools
| Learning tool | Ways tools can be used |
|---|---|
| Canva: Web-based graphic design tool |
|
| Nearpod: Interactive presentations creation tool |
|
| Thinglink: Interactive Image generation program |
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Gamification Tools
| Learning tool | Ways tools can be used |
|---|---|
| Kahoot: Online game-based learning tool |
|
| Polleverywhere: Live polling software |
|
Resources
- Columbia Center for Teaching and Learning (2020). Inclusive Teaching and Learning Online. Columbia University. Retrieved [12/06/2023] from https://ctl.columbia.edu/resources-and-technology/teaching-with-technology/teaching-online/inclusive-teaching/
- Communicating expectations. Derek Bok Center, Harvard University. (n.d.). https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/communicating-expectations
- Resources and Technology. Columbia CTL. (n.d.). https://ctl.columbia.edu/resources-and-technology/teaching-with-technology/teaching-online/community-building/
- Resources and Technology. Columbia CTL. (n.d.-a). https://ctl.columbia.edu/resources-and-technology/resources/designing-inclusive-syllabus/
- https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-forge-strong-community-online-classroom/
- https://ctl.columbia.edu/resources-and-technology/teaching-with-technology/teaching-online/asynchronous-learning/