Engaging Learners
Engaging learners can be done by incorporating group discussion responses, or activities that require the online learner to work with a partner. This is also achieved by giving the learner freedom to choose research topics, discussion topics, etc.
Excellent suggestions!
Emailing them directly and using their name let's them know you are directly involved with their "personal" learning experience. Simply letting them know you have responded to their post is a wonderful follow up technique. I have selectively responded to forums yet have not sent an email to indicate I had posted or replied to their comments. The "hint" for a response from the student is genius. I will do this from here on out.
In the past, I have limited my responses so students would feel like the forum is THEIR place to share their concepts and opinions with each other. The only time I would get involved is when corrections were needed. At this point however, I believe I will try to post more follow questions to some of their postings to provide more instructor interaction during asynchronous discussions.
Hi Scott, I agree with what you said about speaking to the students directly by name in the DB's. I am going to start using your suggestion of emailing them afterwards and let them know I responded to their post and invite them to respond.
I would argue that the best way to engage students is through the Socratic method. Indeed, students will certainly do the minimum if allowed. This is why, in order to engage them, I respond to their posts by using their name in my response, so that the student knows that I am speaking to them and not to the class as a whole. Additionally, I finish my post by asking a follow-up question that hopefully will prompt an ongoing conversation. Another trick that I often use is to email the student to let them know that I responded to their post and to hint that they ought to respond.
Scott
Chanel,
Both are good starts to get learners more involved and engaged in their learning. Discussion can be tricky at times. How do you get your students in to a "meaningful" discussion and not just a question response? How can you get them to continue a discussion beyond the initial post. I know that can be tricky and didn't know if you had any specific experience in this area?
Herbert Brown III
