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In online learning, you get out what you put in – whether you are a student or academic. Active participation is essential, as is the modelling of desired behaviours; so as a facilitator you should lead by example and build momentum.
Try to mix it up for students and make the content attractive by curating a variety of engaging materials and links to other relevant content. Plan for those peaks and valleys when students’ attention spans ebb and flow by including activities, reflections or knowledge quizzes.
Simple acknowledgements in the forums can also help to motivate students as their contributions are validated and knowledge is collectively constructed in sync. This helps to build a sense of belonging and purpose. You can also keep the momentum going by providing useful and timely feedback to students that gives them time to incorporate any changes or new learnings into a subsequent task. Feedback can be delivered in a variety of forms:
- Facilitator feedback – should be goal-referenced, tangible, transparent, actionable, user-friendly (i.e. specific and personalised), timely, ongoing and consistent
- Peer-review feedback – a good way for students to get a lot of concentrated feedback from one another but needs to be guided and managed to ensure meaningful outcomes
- Automated feedback – some of the learning elements included in the design of your online subject may include automated feedback, e.g. in some interactive resources
- Responsive feedback –give feedback within a specific timeframe or advise the student when you will follow up if an issue cannot be immediately addressed; include points and comments that will help students to understand and manage their performance better
Tips
- Pace and vary your content delivery
- Make it fun; add rewards or bonus points
- Be present in the subject during the week and at least once during the weekend
- Build a library of your own good examples to share with students when appropriate
- Communicate in advance to students when you will grade and return their assignments; be consistent in the timetable you set
- Adapt good planning practices; include a few blocks of time dedicated to grading and returning work
- Set notifications so you know when students submit work
- Plan a good closing and wrap activity for the subject
- Grade assignments in the order they are submitted
- Use assignment rubrics for feedback and feed-forward process
- Watch this video (6:04): Engaging and motivating students (UNSW/COFA Online)
- Engaging online learning experiences start with the role of faculty (Keypath Education 2017)
- 7 key characteristics of better learning feedback (TeachThought 2017)