In the modern world, digital education has become a prevalent way of learning that offers convenience and flexibility to students. To further enhance engagement in online education, we propose a learner-centered strategy that prioritizes the needs and interests of students. This approach recognizes that effective online learning encompasses more than just delivering content; it involves creating an atmosphere where students are active participants, collaborators, and leaders in their educational journeys. This case study examines three essential engagement concepts that demonstrate how successful implementation of online learning can increase and sustain engagement, enhance collaboration, and empower students to take the lead. These principles align with the shifting landscape of online education and enable students to take ownership of their learning, creating a more enriching and student-focused online learning experience.
Enhancing and Sustaining Student Engagement
Instructional design emphasizes the importance of engagement (Reiser & Dempsey, 2018), and online learning is particularly effective at fostering it through active student participation and interaction (Meyer, 2014). Engagement is more than just involvement; it involves students' emotional and cognitive commitment to their learning journey. When students connect with their peers and instructors, take ownership of their learning, and see the relevance of course materials to their goals, their engagement deepens (Reiser & Dempsey, 2018). Online learning provides opportunities to cultivate engagement by building a sense of community, personalizing learning experiences, and emphasizing practical applications of knowledge. Effective online learning creates a flexible, dynamic environment that encourages student engagement through discussion forums, questions, and reflective exercises (Meyer, 2014). Instructors can improve and sustain attention by incorporating collaborative activities, utilizing technology tools, and aligning course objectives with real-world applications. By creating a vibrant online learning ecosystem, instructors empower students to invest emotionally and cognitively in their educational journey (Meyer, 2014).
Promote and Enhance Collaboration
In online learning, collaboration is crucial in promoting engagement and a deeper understanding of course material (Hu & Li, 2017). It is a critical factor in the effectiveness of students' performance. It offers several benefits, such as enhanced learning outcomes through knowledge sharing and exposure to diverse perspectives, development of critical skills, including critical thinking and effective communication, and increased social engagement that reduces feelings of isolation for remote learners (Hu & Li, 2017). Discussion forums provide a platform for learners to collaborate, share insights, and collectively construct knowledge. Through group discussions, peer evaluations, and collaborative projects, learners become active participants in learning, promoting a sense of shared responsibility and fostering a collaborative learning environment (Reiser & Dempsey, 2018). Collaboration in online education also prepares students for real-world work environments, where teamwork and digital collaboration skills are increasingly important. It fosters motivation and engagement by encouraging students to participate actively in discussions, projects, and problem-solving tasks.
Moreover, it promotes empathy and global citizenship, creating a more inclusive and open-minded learning environment. Collaboration is not merely a supplementary aspect of online learning; it is transformative. It enriches learning experiences, equips students with essential skills, nurtures a sense of community, and prepares them for the challenges of a digitally driven workforce. Educators should leverage collaborative strategies and technologies to create engaging and effective learning opportunities (Hu & Li, 2017).
Empower and Promote Student Leadership
In the rapidly evolving realm of online education, cultivating student leadership is crucial for fostering engagement and enriching the learning experience. As Meyer (2014) highlighted, student-faculty interaction is pivotal in this dynamic educational landscape. Encouraging students to take on leadership roles, such as leading discussions, moderating forums, or creating content, instills a strong sense of responsibility and ownership over their educational journey. This approach aligns with student-centered learning and active participation, as Reiser and Dempsey (2018) discussed. It is essential to tailor leadership opportunities to individual interests and strengths (Keller, 1999) to ensure students can genuinely contribute to the course community. Instructors should act as mentors, providing support and guidance while allowing student leaders the autonomy to shape their learning experiences. By empowering students to become leaders in online learning, engagement increases, and a more dynamic and student-centric educational environment is fostered (Meyer, 2014).
Moreover, cultivating student leadership in online education goes far beyond enhancing engagement. It equips students with critical skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, which are essential in the digital age. This approach benefits individual learners and improves online educational institutions' overall success and adaptability. Ultimately, nurturing student leadership is the foundation of a thriving and responsive online learning community.
In conclusion, embracing online learning with a student-centered focus is pivotal in creating a dynamic, engaging, and enriching educational experience in the digital age. By prioritizing the needs and interests of students, educators can unlock the full potential of online education.
Incorporating the principles explored into online education can lead to a more vibrant, inclusive, and student-focused learning experience. It empowers students to become active participants, collaborators, and leaders in their educational journeys, ultimately preparing them for the challenges and opportunities of a digitally-driven world. As online learning continues to evolve, a steadfast commitment to student-centered practices will remain at the forefront of effective education.
References
[ADAPT ED]. (2020, October 28). Increase Student Engagement In Your Online Classroom! [Video]. Youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iSYK0N2dyc
Hu, M., & Li, H. (2017). Student Engagement in Online Learning: A Review. In 2017 International Symposium on Educational Technology (ISET), Hong Kong, China (pp. 39–43). doi:10.1109/ISET.2017.17. Retrieved September 15, 2023 from https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8005384
Keller, J. M. (1999). Motivation in cyber learning environments. Educational Technology International, 1(1), 7–30.
Meyer, F. J. (2014). Enhancing student-faculty interaction in online courses: E-strategies for meaningful online learning. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 18(3), 57–66. Retrieved September 16, 2023 from https://web-p-ebscohost-com.oclc.fullsail.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=4&sid=9a9aaab8-6c13-42b2-b145-919d13a1b4a4%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=99551970&db=a9h
Perez, A. H. (2023). Student Interaction Online [Photograph]. Teaching and Learning Resource Center. https://teaching.resources.osu.edu/teaching-topics/student-interaction-online
Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2018). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology (4th ed.). Pearson.
Xavier University (2023). LEADERSHIP DEFINITION AND MODEL [Photograph]. https://www.xavier.edu/student-involvement/leadership/leadership-definition-and-model
Sustained Student Engagement
Maintaining student engagement in an online learning context involves building both affective and cognitive involvement. In the case study, the strategy emphasizes individualization, encouraging students to learn with enjoyment while consistently applying what they have learned in class. Meyer (2014, p. 49) suggests that encouraging active learning of the material should be a core concept with an elastic, kinetic format, constantly in motion and interacting with the learner through activity-based projects and exercises that reflect real-life situations. The case study highlights how discussion forums, reflective exercises, and interactive technology tools support student engagement, helping them appreciate the relevance of learning in their lives. This is supported by Chen, Huang, and Hwang (2022), who demonstrate that flipped classroom…
Learning Engagement Principle 1: Using Interactive Tools
One of the learning engagement principles is to use interactive tools to engage students to solve problems, which is a concept of anchored instruction. Anchored instruction focuses on providing students with a concept instruction that the rest of the lesson falls under (Hsin-Yih, 2000). In a traditional classroom, the focus is on lecture-based teaching, while anchored instruction provides a realistic problem and invites students to actively engage in problem-solving. The online learning environment as described in this blog (dafletcher1, 2023) can make learners feel disconnected from their learning process without the presence of a physical classroom or face-to-face contact with teachers and classmates. Use of anchored instruction would have students work together to…
Boosting Student Participation and Long-Term Involvement
Reiser and Dempsey's principle that motivation is promoted when learners believe they can succeed in mastering the learning task aligns well with the focus on student engagement in online learning (2017). In an online environment, fostering this belief involves creating a dynamic and supportive learning ecosystem. Tools such as discussion forums and reflective exercises can help sustain engagement by offering students multiple ways to connect with the material and with each other. By personalizing learning experiences and emphasizing the practical applications of knowledge, instructors can help students see the relevance of their studies to their personal and professional goals. This approach enhances cognitive engagement and emotional commitment, as students feel more connected to their…
Connecting with Students Online Learning Mission
Online learning can be looked upon as a convenient and impactful instructional method that can reach all learners. Is it possible for online learning to sustain all learners or can it supply the same instructional methods as traditional learning? As mentioned within the study, online learning can present an opportunity for creating student leadership. Experiencing the preparation and planning for online learning engagement during the pandemic presented me as an instructor to focus on the students taking ownership of their learning vs. face to face learning. Could it be variables when using online learning and focusing on the student?
Student-Focused Online Learning Variables
Online learning can be influenced by course content, online interaction, and…
Seamus Coughlin
Full Sail University, IDT 520
Theory 2: Online learning helps learners achieve their goals
Online learning is not a new concept to education, but it is a growing field, that unlike traditional learning is also concerned with the engagement and motivation of learners. Keller and Deimann (2018) state in their second learner engagement principle that engagement and motivation will increase when the learner feels that the content being covered is valuable to their goals (p.81). Online learning understands this concept and makes it a priority to focus on student engagement and motivation while teaching the required content (Sharoff, 2019). One way that online learning increases learner engagement and motivation is by having a variety of involvement techn…