Strategies for
Increasing Student
Participation in Online
Classrooms
How familiar am I with this system?
Plan:
Questions we’ll be
asking of
ourselves to
evaluate how
engageing our
online classes
really are.
Do I know this system from both sides
(admin and user)?
Do I model the engagement that I
expect of my students?
Is this system adding or taking away
from the teaching objectives?
How predictable am I (sometimes it’s
good to be predictable)?
What Can We Do to Ensure
Our Students are Getting the
Most Out of the Online Classroom?
Hint:
There is no such thing as the best app or site…there is just
the one that is best for you and your students ;-)
1
Familiarize Yourself with
your Learning Management
System (LMS), application
or website.
If you only know the backend of your system,
your directions may not be that helpful…
• New systems can overload
language leaners
• Ts can mitigate this by having in
intimate knowledge of the
LMS/app/website
• Admin features are more
complex and often have a
different screen than the
students.
• Explore the system from both
the administrative and end-user
side to anticipate Ss needs
Teacher Check
Have you sat on the user-end
and navigated through the
LMS/platforms that you use?
?
2
Model Engagement
Yourself
Instructors need to show that they know what’s
happening in the classroom by paying attention
and reaching out to students before they ask for
it.
• Regularly use chat box for quick
comprehension checks
• Ts can see students
consistently not participating
and follow up to check on the
student.
• Catch problems early on and
provide additional resources if
needed.
Teacher Check
How do you comprehension-check
in
your online classes?
?
3
Keep Things Simple
Any system which requires a struggle to
perform simple tasks, such as contacting the
instructor, locating lessons, quizzes,
assignments and tests or sending email would
discourage even the most eager student.
• Make access to assignments,
contact info and syllabus etc.
obvious from day one.
• Make supplemental
apps/websites a regular and
predictable part of the class
structure.
• Ss can engage -not spend time
learning how to navigate an
unfamiliar platform.
Teacher Check
Do you introduce new
apps/websites into the plan,
often?
How can you make your lessons
simpler (tech-wise)?
?
4
Be Consistent and
Predictable
Set Consistent Expectations and
Regular, Predictable Activities
• Alleviating confusion
increases comfort and
ease with which Ss
participate.
• Complex criteria and
unpredictable lessons can
increase cognitive load for
Ss.
• Consider cost v. benefit of
adding more complex
requirements.
Teacher Check
How do we make predictable,
yet engaging, online classes?
?
5
Utilize Synchronistic and
Asynchronistic Discussions
Create Spaces to Participate Both Inside
and Outside of Class Time
• Cultivate collaboration,
engagement and discussion.
• Require small group
discussions during class and
discussion boards for outside
of class.
• Students who are
quieter/need more time can
post responses.
Teacher Check
What tools do you use to
engage your students in
collaboration outside of the
online class?
?
1
2
3
4
5
Familiarize yourself
with the systems
you’re using in your
classes (Admin and
User)
Model the
engagement that you
want to see in your
students
Ensure access to
important
information is easy
Allow students space
to connect with
content both inside
and outside of class
Create a predictable
class format
Take-away
Questions, Thoughts,
Concerns
?
TIFFANY TILLMAN
Small Group Discussion
How familiar are you with
the systems
(LMS/Apps/Sites) you use
in your
classes
Have you
ever visited
the system
from the users’ end?
How do you model
engagement with your
students?
Can students access
important information
easlily?
Are your classes
structured in a predictable
way?