Motivating Today's Online Student
Greetings All!
How can we as online instructors capture the attention of online learners who are often distracted by other online outlets when they are trying to learn?
Willie ,
Great post. Why not find professional examples using social media? Why not model professionalism using social media? It is a great opportunity to show them how to utilize technology professionally and that is so important.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I think that one of things that we can do is meet our students where are at the present. Social media, for example, is a hot topic as far as online education is concerned. Therefore, we can develop ways to include social media into our course. I do not believe that social media is the new online education, but I do believe that social media may still play a part in a student's day-to-day operational capabilities. There are ways to integrate Twitter into our teaching without jeopardizing our own or our students' privacy. One way is to create a single Twitter account for the class, and have the students manage the Twitter account. Students can tweet from this class account and play an active role in the social learning environment. We can also instruct our students to follow someone (i.e. if you teach a political science class, have students follow a politician; if you teach a poetry class, instruct students to follow a writer, etc.).
Kimberley,
I am tying to use more electronic calendars to helps students to plan and pace their work. It doesn't always work but it is just another tool to use.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I think that you have to stress the importance of focusing on the task at hand. It can be very hard to hold a student's attention in the online environment. However, I think by making items visually appealing and presenting engaging material and information in a variety of ways(video, pictures, presentation etc) you will attempt to hold their attention and motivate them to focus on the material.
However some of this is also on the student they have to want to learn.
Gwenda,
Just curious, have you assigned students to "lead" the chat as part of participation? This may be a way to engage all.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Great question, Ginger!
In my online classes, I am constantly trying to think of ways to engage students during live chat sessions.
I provide a poll question that is available for students to answer immediately upon entering the classroom, and sometimes I provide them with an "assignment" (skim an article on the web, thought question, etc.) They can do this while they wait for the session to begin.
Also, I do not refer to the chat sessions as lectures, but as interactive live chats. I try to develop Q&A that are more than just Y/N answers, but also the questions must be straightforward answers that are easy to type; otherwise, the participation can be overly burdensome.
My hope is that this encourages students to be paying attention and analyzing as we "chat"--rather than reading email, checking Facebook, etc.
Thanks!
mica,
You make a great point. It is the same principle regarding bonus points. Those who typically work for bonus points don't need them. I do think you can use the way to reach out to the students who you have concerns by sending a private chat during the public chat.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I've often wondered the whole "chicken or the egg?" issue when it comes to those attending live chat doing better in classes.
I, too, have noticed that trend: those who show up in live chats tend to do better in class. But I don't know if that's because that student would already be a better student--by nature. (If that makes sense?)
However, good student or not, I totally agree with attendance improving grades.
It doesn't hurt to remind students of that--that is, that as an instructor you notice those who do well are those who thoughtfully attend chats.
Monique,
I think you make a great point. In use Youtube clips to break up the coursework. I do use humor to reinforce concepts. I to subscribe to the theory that you can use edutainment for learning purposes.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The LMS should have more methods of engagement outside of written content and discussion boards. Perhaps media and video is a great way to educate the students. I think puzzles and games are great tools as well.
Tonia,
Yes, that can be a problem. Could you have a student that earned an A in the previous class give a "statement" regarding what that person thought the participation did for their grade?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The major problem I have with students in an asynchronous environment is participation. Since it is not a requirement for our students to attend chat sessions, participation is usually very low.
What I have found out though is that students who participate in chat session or live labs tend to do better with their studies.
I try to motivate my students by posting an announcement that indicates how much fun we had in the previous session and how much useful information the participates took away!
Lee,
You make such great points!!!!! I personally like 5. You don't know everything; but if you act as if you do, it will undermine the other four points you make.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Tamara,
I think respect is so important. If you have been an online student; you know what the experience is like. I think it is important to be positive in the online environment but realistic.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Chastity,
Great post! You provide them with these expectations and that is the first step! You also provide contact in more than one way. i do think that is important.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Ginger,
Actually I have this problem in my f2f. I think you have to set expectations and keep "reminding" them of the expectations. I would also turn the table of the student and ask them in a DB how would the manage a too many distractions.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
1. Engage the students. Students must feel like they are part of a community where their input matters. To facilitate this endeavor, the instructor must acknowledge when the student makes a contribution to the discussion.
2. Show empathy. As part of a community, individuals should care for the feelings of others. From an instructor stand point, the instructor should provide personalized attention in situations when life pulls the student away from course work.
3. Exhibit patience. No matter how many times instructions or concepts need to be repeated, the instructor should realize that the students are learning the material. Rather than repeating the same methodology, the instructor should try different methods to convey the information.
4. Build trust. It is important that the members of the community trust each other. This means that if an instructor states or promises certain things, the instructor must follow through and fulfill the promise.
5. Embrace not knowing everything. I think that it is important that instructors admit when they don’t know something. Not only does it show some humility, but it can be a great teaching moment to show the students how to find the information.
I motive my students by treating them with respect. I share my fears fron a student and professor perspective. Weekly I post positive quotes in the annoucements. I am available to the students at all times. Also, I provide positive feedback on assignments.
In my university, we have an asynchronous learning environment. Therefore, as I'm asking interactive questions every 10-15 minutes of our 1 hour Live Chat, if I notice a student doesn't answer, I will Instant Message them.
Then, once we log off, I will email them to tell them that I missed their answer to questions I asked during key parts of the Live Chat. As well, since attendance of Live Chat will be counted if either they attend or watch the archived recording, it is best for them to watch the recording if they are not in a position to give 100% of their attention to the Live Chat...otherwise, it's all for naught!
