Provide clear expectations for standards of work and conduct by use of rubrics, constructive feedback, and open opportunities for students to ask clarifying questions.
Use discussion boards and other tools to encourage peer communication.
Utilize a variety of mediums for instruction and demonstrations of knowledge to have students practice a variety of learning and expression modes.
Let students voice feedback at multiple points throughout the course
Encourage students to consider peers’ perspectives in a respectful manner.
As someone who has taken numerous online courses throughout my time in school, I understand just how important it is for instructors to maintain student motivation to minimize burnout. Overall, clear communication is crucial to an online classroom environment. This includes allowing students to access rubrics and clear expectations for work quality. Especially for students that find themselves anxious in the school setting, having a rubric takes out some of the “guesswork” that puts added stress on students. Additionally, allowing peer interaction can be beneficial to students in online classes because it creates a sense of belonging and minimizes lonely feelings that are felt by students in asynchronous environments especially. By giving students a chance to share their perspectives and respectfully discuss others’ opinions, students are productively exposed to ideas that may differ from their own. Further, multimedia instructional and demonstrative tools maintain student attention and prepare them for real-world situations. This can include delivering instruction using a mix of video, PowerPoint, and infographic sources, and allowing students to choose how they demonstrate their learning, often using a detailed rubric as a guideline. Finally, as an instructor, collecting and analyzing student feedback is crucial to improving courses and allowing students to feel that they have a voice. Ultimately, students that have a sense of belonging in online learning environments are more likely to maintain motivation and productively engage in learning processes.
Clear as a whistle and right to the point! I love how you considered your personal experiences and along with your knowledge bound them together to create a plan for keeping students attention.
ReplyDeleteI really like what you wrote about utilizing different mediums. I think it would really help with keeping students engaged and excited to continue learning.
ReplyDeleteI really like your five strategies! Straight to the point. I like how you spoke about your experience with taking online classes and related it to the point.
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