Presented by: Erin Friedman and Christine Terry
Description:
It has been well established that student engagement positively correlates with improved learning outcomes. However, in many ways, it is more challenging to engage students in the online synchronous classroom (Darby and Lang, 2019). Online classrooms can also offer a sense of anonymity and lack of accountability, and students may feel more comfortable simply observing rather than verbally participating. Concerningly, learning loss and unfavorable academic performance have been linked to decreased student engagement (Fisher et al., 2021). Although hands-on learning techniques help students practice and gain confidence (Aergerter-Wilmsen et al., 2005) and can significantly improve student learning (Catena and Carbonneau, 2019), they are challenging to implement in a remote setting. Despite these challenges, it is possible to engage students in the virtual classroom, which helps them achieve learning outcomes and makes them more comfortable with participating. Online poll response software allows students to anonymously participate in the discussion without fear of public failure. Having the opportunity to fail privately enhances student learning while still allowing the instructor to determine whether to continue on or revisit confusing material. Virtual break-out rooms can be leveraged to facilitate think-pair-share discussions, where students can safely dip their toes in before venturing deeper into the conversation. Finally, with some pre-planning and material distribution, online courses can include hands-on elements like at-home experimentation and model-building. These activities are especially useful in courses that have a laboratory or studio component. In this session, you will gain first-hand experience and practice with each of these engagement techniques. We will guide you through the use of live online polls, discussing topics in small breakout groups, and have a go at a hands-on learning activity. All of these techniques can be implemented in multiple disciplines, and we have used them successfully in face-to-face classrooms with enrollments as low as 8 and as high as 400.
Objectives:
Participants will practice using and implementing techniques to enhance student engagement, including online poll response software, think-pair-share discussions in breakout rooms, and hands-on learning activities.
The discussion will also include aspects of transitioning these tools and skills to face-to-face classes across disciplines