Engaging Students in the online classroom

Stan Freeda office of educational technology

New Hampshire

Department of Education

Teaching Online can be Overwhelming

Objectives

promote the role of the Online Teacher as

a Facilitator or Coach of learning, not just

a provider or deliverer of content.

Facilitators guide students through an

experience.

promote discussion facilitation as a means

to individualize learning.

Facilitators design engaging questions that

challenge students to relate content to their

individual situations.

Crafting Questions for

Online Discussions

http://blogs.setonhill.edu/games/2012/01/02/blooms-taxonomy/

Original Revised

Let’s Do Something

Interactive!

Crafting Questions for Online

Discussions

• Potential Question types follow the Bloom hierarchy

Questions can ask students to:

• Remember factual information

• Demonstrate Understanding

• Apply his/her knowledge and comprehension

to a given situation.

• Analyze information and form a conclusion.

• Evaluate something based on information

• Create something new using the information

This Activity is

Questionable

Use your device to visit the websites and obtain the

information.

Read/skim the information provided on the site, as

appropriate.

Talk to your classmates as necessary.

Think about your answer to the questions.

Then we’ll discuss…

I will ask you a series of

questions . . .

This Question seeks

Knowledge

Go to the iNACOL website, www.inacol.org

Resources > National Quality Standards > Quality Online Teaching > download PDF.

Answer the question.

How many Standards for

Online Teaching are

there?

Questions that seek

Knowledge

How would this question engage students in deep discussion?

What is the quality of learning?

How would this question help individualize learning?

How many Standards for

Online Teaching are

there?

This Question requires

Understanding

Standard C states that The online teacher plans, designs, and

incorporates strategies to encourage active learning, application,

interaction, participation, and collaboration in the online

environment.

Read over the page for knowledge, understanding, and

abilities required.

Answer the question.

What is active learning?

Questions that seek

Understanding

What is active learning?

How would this question engage students in deep discussion?

What is the quality of learning?

How would this question help individualize learning?

This Question asks for an

Application

First, think about the knowledge, understanding and skills

you read about in the standard.

Then consider how these can engage students and

promote active learning.

Think about your current online practices.

Answer the question.

What is one change you can

make to your current online

teaching that would enhance

active learning?

Questions that ask for

Application

What is one change you can

make to your current online

teaching that would enhance

active learning?

How would this question engage students in deep discussion?

What is the quality of learning?

How would this question help individualize learning?

This Question requires

Analysis

Look at the rating scale on the rubric for Quality Online

Teaching.

Read over the 5 levels and how they are defined.

Read over the criteria for Standard C.

Think about your own practices.

Answer the question.

How would you rate your use

of each of the components

of Standard C?

Questions that ask for

Analysis

How would you rate your use

of each of the components

of Standard C?

How would this question engage students in deep discussion?

What is the quality of learning?

How would this question help individualize learning?

This Question asks for an

Evaluation

Think about each of the 4 previous questions in terms of

the criteria for Standard C. How many standards for online teaching are there?

What is active learning?

What is one change you can make to your current online teaching that

would enhance active learning?

How would you rate your use of each of the components of Standard C?

Answer the question.

Which of the question

types that we have

examined so far support

engagement in learning for

students?

Questions that ask for

Evaluation

Which of the question

types that we have

examined so far support

engagement in learning for

students?

How would this question engage students in deep discussion?

What is the quality of learning?

How would this question help individualize learning?

This Question requires

Creation

Look over the criteria for Standard C.

Think about an activity that incorporates the strategies

outlined in the standard.

Answer the question.

What activity would you

do in an online course that

would enable you to

demonstrate your

knowledge and abilities in

support of Standard C?

Questions that require

Creation

What activity would you

do in an online course that

would enable you to

demonstrate your

knowledge and abilities in

support of Standard C?

How would this question engage students in deep discussion?

What is the quality of learning?

How would this question help individualize learning?

Debriefing the Activity

What did we learn about the types of questions we ask of students?

What did we learn about how we facilitate the learning of students?

How do these factors effect the engagement of students?

How do these factors effect the personalization of learning?

What a Teacher Needs A successful Teacher Needs The education of a college president,

The executive ability of a financier,

The humility of a deacon,

The adaptability of a chameleon,

The hope of an optimist,

The courage of a hero,

The wisdom of a serpent,

The gentleness of a dove,

The patience of Job,

The grace of God, and

The persistence of the Devil.

- Anonymous

What an online Teacher Needs A successful online Teacher Creates a cohesive learning community from

disparate participants in a galaxy of

information.

Excites and incites students by acting as class

cheerleader: Go Team!

Multitasks with the agility and perspicuity of a

superhero.

Coaches students to “go where no one has

gone before.”

Explores the forest within each tree.

What an online Teacher Needs A successful online Teacher Appreciates the paradox of being available for

students 24/7 while at the same time giving

them space to grow.

Communicates honest, but diplomatic

feedback, that advances student progress.

Imparts knowledge with warmth, humor,

authenticity, and conviction.

Empowers students to direct their own

discovery, insight, and reflection.

And most of all enjoys the journey that is

learning.

Online Instructors

Superheroes

are

You have what it takes to be a

Superhero !

Thanks for your time, patience, and cooperation!