Engaging students online vs on ground
When I started teaching on campus, I knew that I had to be fully prepared to engage the students and keep them interested. They could see by body language as well as "extras" that I might bring to the class such as share anecdotes, relative news articles, humor etc.. When I started teaching online, I feared that I might lose the excitement that I shared with my on ground students mainly because they could not see my body language. Because of my passion for education, when interacting with students via lecture or video, the enthusiasm in my voice served as that substitute. I also shared links to websites and articles, as well as some of my past challenging experiences and use of tools such as Jing and screen sharing programs which really help online learners feel connected.
Please share ways that you engage online students vs on ground students.
Thanks,
Dianne
Dianne,
I actually do the same types of things. I have them work on collaborative projects together and they have to use a variety of communications technologies that work for them to complete the activities. I also have the ability in some of my classes to cross-collaborate between my on-campus course and my online courses and have on-campus students work on collaborative projects with online course students. Makes an interesting dynamic. One reason is the demographics of my students....traditional age college students on-campus and non-traditional mostly in my online courses.
Herbert Brown III
I've taught on ground for nine years and online for the past five years. I'm no longer on ground because I'm in my career field full-time. I noticed students have the same excuses as to why they weren't in attendance or why an assignment is tardy. Motivating students can be done in both settings. I motivate my online students by sending them quotes via email or placing them in the announcements tab. I also create Screencast audio and share YouTube videos related to the weekly course content. I also place links in the discussion forum so they can read further about a specific subject. There are so many things we can retrieve from then internet to engage our online communities.
Guerda,
I like the combination of different things you use to motivate and engage your students. I use many of these as well and find that my students really like the video content I create for them.
Herbert Brown III
Online learning is challenging as you are not 100% sure of what the student is capable of or where they have come from. You have to trust that you are giving them the right information and support and hope they do their best with it.
Cory,
I would also argue that the traditional student in the on ground classroom is not much different. You really don't know their background or what they are capable of you just have to design the classroom and learning experiences in such a way that all students can learn if they put forth the effort to do so. And be willing to support the students through their learning experience.
Herbert Brown III
I enjoy creating videos for my students and sharing links to recent articles. I find that only a few respond to the articles I post in the DB, but many of my students will refer to the articles and videos in emails and live chats.
Denise,
I have found the same response from my students. They really like the videos I create for them and they watch them over and over to get the technical concepts I am presenting to them.
Herbert Brown III
I taught traditional age freshmen through graduate students in a ground and blended environment. Now, I teach the same demographic in an exclusively online environment. The students I work with feel more engaged when they can directly contact me. Although I do keep office hours online, I also post my cell phone number and encourage students to call or text whenever they need help. This has proved a valuable way of engaging students, and they continually tell me they like being able to actually speak with the instructor. As the content I teach is highly technical, the ability to call me or text me helps students solve the problem synchronously, while they are working on it.
Lisa,
I really like how you have identified what your students need and have adjusted yourself to meet their needs. I have also found teaching those same demographics that students do not (for the most part) want to just be left alone to their learning. They want the human connection whether they are online or in person. I also try to give my online students lots of opportunities to connect with me and their classmates in a personal way.
Herbert Brown III
Hi Dianne - I find that you can use many of the same "extras" online as you do in the classroom. Video conferencing technology like Adobe Connect is getting better and better each year so that is a really big help. Just a few years ago we couldn't allow the students to use their microphones in our live lectures via Adobe Connect now we can even share the microphone and camera with students. I also use Camtasia to do screen captures on technical concepts.
Justice
Justice,
Video conferencing tools are great in on ground and online classes. I find that I use most of the online tools in my on ground classes and they really help to reach some of the students better. That is why blended or hybrid classes are becoming so popular. Faculty are realizing how effective many of our online tools are as just general teaching/learning tools.
Herbert Brown III
