Instead of just providing facts, focus on their confidence with immediate feedback. Low-stakes feedback to prevent learners from giving up.
Its important to keep students engaged in order to help them absorb the knowledge and also to create connections during their time online since this is going to be their first appearance in the industry; this is their first contact with the reality of the music that lives out there.
Helping students stay focused by reflecting on their motivation and goals has been an effective strategy during online learning. Students who are learning online may easily be distracted by a lack of space to study, family commitments, and work. I have learned to address the unique aspects of each student who has different ways of learning. I am learning to incorporate different tools to allow different perspectives to achieve the concepts and knowledge of a topic.
Examining some of the successful strategies I've already been using as well as other fresh, cutting-edge approaches I should use in the classroom has been an intriguing lesson. The classroom will benefit by including students in an online setting.
With online learning, most of the learner population will be your nontraditional adult learners of different ages, educational backgrounds/experiences who are balancing work, family responsibilities, and other life commitments. By understanding these personal experiences, it can help educators identify areas where flexibility, clearer communication, and additional academic support can help improve the learning experience.
This course reinforced the importance of introductions/social engagement. Having a present instructor, especially in an online course, is vital because it will allow the learner to feel supported and have that sense of connection, even when it is through a screen. Having an organized LMS and providing a syllabus early can help the learner prepare for the upcoming course, and would also have a way to contact the instructor in case of any clarifications needed. Providing feedback to the student regularly through structured rubrics or during office hours go a long way and have been met with positivity.
Lastly, student engagement is very important when it comes to online learning. Every learner has a different learning style, so the instructor must have different learning strategies/methods in their course. Discussion boards about the material of the week, requiring relevant responses and replies to each other, interactive activities that may include simulations, videos, flashcards, quizzes. These can also involve active learning strategies, such as reviewing required reading/material before attending Skills Lab so that the learner can participate in active discussion and have some confidence in practicing a skill, Case-Based Learning scenarios.
By utilizing these important strategies, online/blended learning can be impactful and a positive experience for learners.
Its very important making sure the content you are teaching your online learners is appealing to them not just reading text material. Finding new ideas to get there attention is key to there success. There are some students that are hands on and that is how they learn so this module gives you ideas on what to you can do to keep your online student eganged.
This has been an interesting module to look at some of the practices I have already been implementing that are effective and some new innovative methods that I should incorporate into the classroom. Engaging students in an online environment will support the classroom.
Engaging various different methods from explaining details for terms they may have never heard. Observing the students if they are attentive and engaging. Do a pop quiz or use the wheel of names to ask a specific students questions, and they know that this is done fairly so they are engaged. Being available before start time, at breaks and after class for students perhaps shy to ask questions, gives me opportunity to build their knowledge and get to know the students.
For online class - have them share their photo, provide them my contact information , engage them by way of participation. Provide efficient , timely feedback to their questions.
Comment on Tricia Kassab's post: Thank You Dr. Tricia for being a role model in our VN team!
What stood out to me most was how important it is for students to feel both connected and supported in an online course. Building rapport early, even through something simple like a welcome video or email, can help make the course feel more personal from the start. Creating opportunities for students to interact through wikis, study groups, and discussion boards also helps strengthen that sense of community. At the same time, keeping students motivated takes intentional planning by the instructor. Providing timely and constructive feedback, breaking content into smaller manageable parts, and offering directions in different formats like videos and diagrams can make the learning experience more accessible and effective for busy adult learners.
I have learned that sending reminders helps students stay on track with their assignments and boosts their confidence in reaching their goals. We all have busy lives, and it is not just about giving students more help when you assist them in staying on track.
I try various methods to engage students. When I lecture, I incorporate videos. I share stories as I discuss concepts. Kahoot games are a great way to engage students and explain why responses are correct or incorrect. Meeting 1:1 with students to review their exam scores helps build relationships. For group activities we do case studies. I have also done the telephone game to discuss communications. I would like to do more group activities as time permits.
Student are unique learners , each one have a different style, online learners are more motivated to be exploring new technology.
Every student is unique in there own way. They also have certain learning styles which is important for instructors to learn and adjust so that all the students can get what they need to be successful in the class.
What I learned from this module is how important both social engagement and motivational engagement are in an online class. Students learn better when they feel connected to the instructor and to each other. Creating opportunities for interaction, like introductions, discussion boards, and study groups, can help students feel more comfortable participating and asking questions. I also learned that timely and meaningful feedback, clear directions, and breaking content into smaller pieces can help keep students motivated and reduce procrastination.
In my course, I feel that I already support engagement by communicating with students regularly and providing feedback on their work. However, one area I can improve is creating more opportunities for students to interact with each other and share their experiences. As an LVN clinical instructor, many students have different healthcare backgrounds, and encouraging them to share those experiences could help deepen learning.
Some steps I can take to improve this include adding more discussion questions related to real clinical situations, encouraging students to introduce themselves and share their goals at the beginning of the course, and reminding students that they can support each other through discussions. I can also provide clearer instructions and examples for assignments and continue giving timely feedback so students understand how they are progressing.
Most of these improvements can be done on my own by adjusting how I structure discussions and communicate with students. If needed, I could also work with administration or the curriculum team to explore additional tools or resources that help increase student engagement in the course.
Using more of social engagement platforms may be beneficial. Also implementing more educational games may be helpful.
I learned the importance of students engagement to learning and there different tools that will help them engaged to topics that being presented
From this topic, I learned that engaging online learners requires interaction, clear communication, and varied activities such as discussions, multimedia content, and short quizzes. I plan to apply these strategies by creating more interactive lessons and encouraging student participation to make online learning more engaging and effective.
It's very worthwhile to take the time and reach out to students on their level. Students respond much better when they recognize the instructor has their best interests in mind and is making an effort to understand their role and effort in the class.
Through this module, I learned that effective online instructions go beyond content delivery and rely heavily on intentional engagement, instructor presence, and learner motivation. I gained a deeper understanding of how the communication course structure and meaningful interaction directly influence student persistence and success in an online learning environment
