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Active Learning: Engaging Students To Maximize Learning In An Online…
Active Learning: Engaging Students To Maximize Learning In An Online Course
INTRODUCTION
Student engagement is not only a challenge in traditional face-to-face classrooms but also, and debatably more so, in online courses.
Typically, active learning is not associated with online or blended learning environment.
several strategies for effectively incorporating and practicing active learning in non-face-to-face settings
use of well-conceived discussions
group work
creating a collaborative environment that encourages and fosters a community of learning.
It is critical to weave active learning through the major components of an online or blended course, including discussions, assignments and assessments to promote a high level of student engagement.
key components in online courses are
design of instructional material for the content delivery
student assessment of material
discussion management
time management
frustration handling
These student engagement mechanisms are founded in classic pedagogies but adapted to suit the online course environment.
BACKGROUND ON ACTIVE LEARNING
Studies have shown that employing such methods of active learning improves both students’ learning and their attitudes towards learning
Experimentation and exploration in teaching and learning methods is required to develop and adapt unique teaching methods to a course - including those being taught online
One learning model that has been core to the development of active learning strategies is Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Bloom’s Taxonomy defines three domains of educational activities:
Cognition
Affective
Psychomotor
Each of these domains identifies levels of expertise, which can be measured through knowledge-based goals, emotional goals, and skills-based goals
Bloom’s higher order cognitive skills, such as application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation, demonstrate a deeper comprehension of material.
These cognitive skills are strengthened through active learning strategies such as visual learning, cooperative learning, debates, drama, discussions, role-playing and peer learning/teaching (
Integration of Active Learning into Online Courses
Integrative active learning into course material is crucial to engaging students, regardless of the environment.
These activities should be based on higher level thinking, such as analysis, synthesis and evaluation of Bloom's taxonomy.
Various mechanisms for active engagement in learning and collaboration in online classes are explored below.
Strategies to Incorporate Active Learning in an Online Course Design, Development and Delivery
A few aspects that should be considered with regard to online courses
the integration of design elements
accessibility of materials
value of interdisciplinary collaboration
development of community among students and faculty
encouraging valuable discussions
use of effective assessment methods
The integrated course design models consist of
basic components of identification of situation factors
learning goals
teaching and learning activities
feedback and assessment
six strategies to help develop best practice in the online environment
(1) building a community,
2) clearly outlining course expectations
(3) utilizing online tools for interaction
(4) promoting the exchange of ideas
(5) providing timely and relevant feedback
(6) creating an environment that is student centred
Accessibility of Course Materials
engagement in online courses is very much dependent on students’ ability to access the material.
Mobile learning is considered an extension of online technologies and is largely dependent on cloud-based services to eliminate the resource restriction of mobile devices
Mobile learning provides students with access to course resources while on the go and is designed to allow real time access to the online course via mobile devices.
The advantages are that it provides access to learning anytime and anywhere adding accessibility to learning.
The challenges are that the mobile devices have limited resources such as viewable area, limited memory and processing power
These tools provide increased access to course material as well as more ways to interact with classmates and faculty within the online environment. 6.
Significance of Interdisciplinary Collaboration
it is critical to foster a collaborative learning environment where students from varying disciplines with different cultures and ethnicities can work together
For example, in an interdisciplinary project, undergraduate students from one of the authors’ software engineering class collaborated with students studying Occupational Therapy to generate solutions for specific problems related to Occupational Therapy.
The software engineering students were required to follow the principles of software engineering design and development to develop a software application.
After completing the course, students ranked their proficiency in hard skills, such as requirement elicitation and product design
Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, rules of professional engagement, presentation and respect for diverse viewpoints were practiced in addition to the technical skills related to their professions
students commented on increased ability to prioritize needs, think critically and interact professionally
Successful academic & industry collaborations can enhance use of technology, cross-disciplinary work, and establish a community atmosphere within the course participants.
Creating a Community of Learning
One of the most important components of online learning is to provide a forum for the development of a community
One way to provide expectations is through the use of a recorded welcome to the course.
allows students the opportunity to virtually meet you as you set the tone for the course
A welcome page describing where to find course materials and well-defined expectations for the overall course as well as each assignment is key to setting the stage for student participation and engaging students in the course
activities such as debates, role-playing, drama, and peer learning/teaching are valuable tools for increasing student engagement in the discussions.
Students can create video clips of debates, drama, role-playing or peer teaching and post in the discussions to share with the class.
Various modes of engagement such audio, visual and scripting can be used to facilitate discussions
significant piece in the development of a community of learning in an online course is communication
Communication in an online course is a critical component in the exchange of information in verbal and written forms.
Interaction and communication between the students and between students and faculty is one of the most important elements of online learning
Engaging the Classroom Through Discussion
Benefits of discussion
promoting student engagement
developing critical thinking skills
improving communication skills
enhancing students learning
benefits of online discussions over classroom discussions
convenience
additional time for students to reflect on discussion prompts and responses
increased participation
greater sense of community
allows instructors more time to interact with students without the time restriction imposed by face-to-face-classes. Dixon
three elements to be considered for online discussions to be successful
Pre-assessment
Relevance
Assessment criteria
need to be clearly stated so that students know what is expected of them
Well-defined and clear assessment criteria help in preventing surprises
refers to how the material being covered pertains to the students.
involves finding out what students already know about the subject so that instructors have a better idea of an appropriate point from which to start the discussion
There are several tools and strategies to promote active learning and student engagement including using small groups, debates and assigning different roles to students in discussions
Some tools for use in online discussions include learning management systems, video chat tools and discussion boards and forums.
Use of Effective Assessment Methods
In an online course, the use of appropriate assessment techniques is important because of its physically remote nature compared to a face-to-face learning environment
Assessments in online courses may pose greater challenges in cases where instructors attempt to adapt the assessment methods used in face-to-face classrooms
both formative and summative assessment can be useful in online classes
Summative assessments provide a measure of the level of proficiency achieved at the end of a class or class un
Formative assessment provides feedback that can be used by both the instructor and students to make further improvements in the ongoing course.
Designing effective rubrics is key to successfully assessing outcomes in any course
The overall goal of rubrics is to teach students that learning is their responsibility, and to encourage students to become self-reflective.
polls are a great tool for engaging students in an online course and to assess how well students are learning concept
Challenges Facing Active Learning Integration in Online Courses
one of the most prominent organizational challenges is the lack of recognition of the time that is needed to effectively design and administer online courses
The online learning environment creates many challenges that require patience, skills and experience in handling and overcoming
For instance, the bandwidth of the internet can cause the internet connection to slow down causing congestion and frustration for the faculty and students
frustrations can arise among faculty especially in cases where college administrators do not recognize the increased workload on the faculty
Lack of resources including technology and personnel can cause dissatisfaction among faculty
The two most important factors that have significant impact on the delivery of online conten
t
the technology used
the design of the course
Another frustration that can be experienced by both instructors and students is the resistance to interactive online instructional techniques
If the students have not clearly understood their responsibilities and the expectations, this can cause resentment both on faculty as well as the students’ side
CONCLUSION
Despite the challenges faced in developing and delivering effective online courses, participation in online courses is becoming widespread
Various mechanisms can be used in the design of an online learning environment that potentially foster a high level of student engagement
t is important to recognize that, regardless of the tools being utilized, designing an effective online course involves careful planning, considerable resources and dedicated time commitment as well as experience and expertise in teaching and learning