Engaging learners
I use weekly office time for my students to have an open invitation to meet me in the chat room. This serves as a safe time for them to voice concerns or simply chat about a topic. Of course I am available at other times but this seems to engage them at a fairly high level regarding course content.
Other ways I engage is through the discussions and often I will like a video or U-tube clip in the discussions to make a point. They love it.
mohammad ,
It what way can you be more specific?
Herbert Brown III
That is really neat, however are you breaking
copiright laws?
Hi Debbie,
Could you please tell me, how long are these chat room sessions? And you say weekly meaning once a week or a few times a week?
Kevin,
Just to play devil's advocate, if the software provides the instruction in the same way and as many times as the students want to go through it....what if their brain does not process the content that way? Thinking of Math concepts, there are many ways to teach and learn math concepts, one might work well for one student, and another method might work for another. That is the power of an excellent teacher - to modify instruction to meet individual student learning modes.
Herbert Brown III
I find that providing completely automated learning activities that are game-like in their structure has been effective in improving engagement. By earning points and achievements as they progress students get feedback on how well they are doing, and unlike people the software is infinitely patient and does not care how many tries it takes a student to get something right.
The downside is that making and updating such software requires considerable resources.
Donna,
Time is always the critical component. I like your required one on one sessions, that requires them to connect with you to start building that relationship. I have had the same experience with online office hours, so I tell students to just schedule with me a time that works for them, and I will be flexible - it seems to work better.
Herbert Brown III
Our university is synchronous with students attending live sessions twice a week per course.
I have the same issue with students utilizing office hours. In the last 6 months of having scheduled hours, not one student has taken advantage of those times.
I have also scheduled "jam sessions", which are open sessions to discuss any assignments or questions student's may have regarding the course. These are not always well attended, however, it may be due to the time not being convenient for them to attend. These sessions are also recorded for students to have access at any time.
One of the techniques we use to build a rapport with our students is a voice to voice session with each student to check in with them on an individual basis. This seems to work out very well and comments I have received back from students are positive. Overall, they expressed feelings of being cared about and not just a number in the class. It does take time, however, engaging them in this way has had a positive impact on their success and our retention efforts.
I agree Debbie that it is important that students know that you are available to them. I mention to all my students that I am available through my office hours and anytime I am online if they want to use AIM to contact me. Thus, they have an opportunity to get an answer for their question quickly. This tends to reduce student frustration and allows them to get their homework done.
Jean Riese
Debbie,
How often would you say that your students connect with you during your "office time?" I have made myself available for video conferencing office hours and they seldom connect, so I usually have students request personal help sessions. Do you do anything that encourages them to connect with you?
Herbert Brown III
