Engaging Learners | Origin: EL102
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Online Teaching Techniques --> Engaging Learners
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
An instructor has to carefully respond when giving feedback including grammar, spelling, syntax, etc.
Using asynchronous discussion methods will help the students in all of their learning styles. Instructor posts and responses will keep the student engaged and able to feel that they are a part of the learning environment. Instructor responses require quality feedback that the student understands.
We are currently asynchronous and don't see us changing to synchronous anytime soon.
I learned the difference between Asynchronous and Syncronous discussions. And the importance of feedback to the student.
I will mostly use asynchronous discussions because they foster learning and interacting with the content. Synchronous discussions need to be orchestrated and shouldn't focus on learning the content. Also, I need to keep offering constructive but positive feedback to students.
Effective engagement can include interactive discussions, real-world applications, and the use of different types of content such as videos, case studies, or group activities. These approaches help address different learning styles and make the material more meaningful and relatable. I also learned that timely feedback and consistent communication play a key role in keeping students motivated and connected to the course.
It is key to know the difference between one-on-one learning and group learning as everyone learns differently.
Comment on Maegan Moore's post: Great insight Maegan! When students are interacting regularly and meaningfully, you have a better chance at catching misconceptions and misunderstandings more quickly and can offer remediation and corrective feedback. Staying engaged with the student and supporting them throughout their learning can significantly boost their confidence and keep them focused.
While recent research evidence has dismissed learning styles as having a significant impact on student learning and success, I do believe that people do have preferred ways they like to learn things. Nevertheless, the format of the content should match the outcome of the learning goal, and instructors should use multiple delivery methods in their instruction. The Avoidant, Competitive and Dependent categories mentioned in the lesson seem more like social interaction profiles rather than learning styles or learning preferences. These categories describe how students communicate and interact with others in the course, not necessarily how they choose to learn.
Engaging learners online requires creating interactive experiences and encouraging active participation. I plan to use more discussions and timely feedback to keep students involved and motivated.
The focus is on asynchronous promoting discussions that do not happen at the same time vs synchronous discussions that occur in real time. The preferred method is asynchronous. Learning styles that influence student participation include collaborative, participant, and independent. Strategies to promote learner participation is driven by class size. Feedback should be timely, build confidence, appropriate tone.
This module helped me reflect on the importance of managing the online learning environment in a structured, fair and supportive way. Effective record management, clear communication rules, timely feedback, and well-organised student support are essential to prevent confusion and reduce unnecessary workload. I will apply this in my classes by creating clear folders and naming conventions for assignments, using dedicated spaces in the learning platform for general questions and FAQs, and setting clear expectations for response times. I will also monitor participation more carefully, support quiet or struggling students through personalised messages, and manage disruptive or procrastinating behaviour by referring consistently to institutional policies and assessment rules. Overall, these strategies will help me create a more organised, inclusive and professional learning environment for my students.
The module highlights the importance of creating an active, supportive and well-structured online learning environment. I found the distinction between asynchronous and synchronous discussions particularly valuable, as asynchronous forums can give students more time to reflect, participate and engage critically, while synchronous sessions are better used for clarification, support and small-group interaction. I will apply this in my classes by designing weekly discussion forums aligned with learning outcomes, using clear netiquette rules, providing concise prompts, and summarising key points at the end of each discussion. I will also use small-group activities to encourage quieter students to participate, offer timely and confidence-building feedback, and maintain a visible teaching presence through regular communication and personalised support. These strategies will help me create a more inclusive and engaging learning experience for all students.
This module taught me how to effectively engage students in synchronous and asynchronous discussion posts and how to provide effective and constructive criticism
The similarities, differences, advantages, and disadvantages of synchronous vs asynchronous discussion was helpful.
The difference between syncronous and asyncronous. Keeping students engaged.
One thing i learned is that students have different styles of learning, sometimes it might feel difficult to keep students engaged but switching up styles will help students keep engaged in learning.
It was most interesting for me to learn about the "dependent" style of learning. I have been seeing this for years and really had no way to classify it, but now will be doing more research on how I can better help to manage this style of learner, both online and in person, to encourage a more interactive learning style for them.
Consistent and timely effective feedback provides the student with security and trust that the Instructor will respond to their emails and provide them with instruction, clarification and other assistance they may need.
