Online Tools to
Engage Your
StudentsJennifer Kauffman
Fall 2012
Students will be able to name
engaging tools that they can
effectively use in their online course.
What type of learner are you?
Choose from the following:
1.visual learner
2.auditory learner
3.read and write learner
4.kinesthetics learner
Infographic from Online College.org
http://edudemic.com/2012/07/types-of-learning/
Type in the chat box to
tell us which of these four
choices describes you.
Online Tools to Engage Your Students
1. Discussion Boards
2. Blogs
3. Video Clips
4. If you build it can they find it and use it?
Go Animate
Prezi
IM
Others
5. Resources
Discussion Boards
Teacher sets guidelines by helping students to understand their
role in the discussion forum.
Model good communication
Discussion must have purpose, share how it relates to the
learning objectives
Create open ended questions allowing students to explore and
apply what they are learning- targets the higher-order thinking
skills
Why do you think that? What is your reasoning? Is there an
alternative strategy? Ask clarifying questions that encourage
students to think about what they know and don't know.
Provide incentives for student participation
How many discussions should a 16 week course
include? Why?
(Type your response in the chat window.)
“The use of unorthodox
teaching methods encourages
student involvement and
helped students become
personally engaged in the
course material”-Webb
Blogs Blogs present content in reverse chronological
order
If possible, host within the course management system
Provide a rubric to help students know what is expected of them
Instructors can add current content to their class
Don’t duplicate content from the main part of the course content
Great place to put news and announcements where the students can ask clarifying questions
What clarifying question would you ask about blogs?
(Type your response in the chat window.)
“…online environment
can be richer than face-
to-face situations…”-Dai
Video ClipsCan stimulate discussion if video is
relevant to the course
Brief, 5 minutes
After viewing students participate in a
discussion based on the video. Again be
sure to give guidelines as to the length of
their response to the video and also the
number of responses to their peers
Where do you think we could post our discussions
about the video?
a. Discussion board
b. Blog
Go Animate
http://goanimate.com/videos/0q_vujgXm
9l0?utm_source=emailshare&refuser=0tdk
8RHKuXKw
View the Go! Animate video and then tell us if you
have tried this program.
Prezi
Very similar to power point to create
Enables instructor to present information in a fun
techie manner
Accepts files, you tube, web links, screen shots,
videos, pictures, etc.
http://prezi.com/plttmx-9gu8b/online-teaching/
“The quality of your
contribution is more
important than the length of
each component.”
-University of Oregon
IM Setting up for each participant
Chats can be set up in groups-different days of the week, and times to meet the needs of all learners
Students have to give their undivided attention, no multitasking
Form study groups
Students can IM you, and you IM them
Policies and expectations have to be clear from the beginning
Keep a chat log-some students may prefer to participate in smaller group over a whole class chat
Don’t micromanage-let them keep it informal
Tells us, other than your phone
texting, where do you currently use IM?
“…IM is best suited for
brainstorming,
investigating, or exploring
issues.”-Kelly
Others to check out
Web Field Trips
Google Reader
Wiki
Slide Rocket
Creative Commons
“Educators should
engage students early
and often, using
different learning
strategies customized
to the class content
and the students’ pre-
existing knowledge.
-
Angelino, Williams, Na
tvig
Quizlet
http://quizlet.com/8353069/learning-
online-flash-cards/
In groups of 4, where could we create and discuss our
Quizlet flash cards?
Diigo
Use it as your personal library
A place to store all of your online sources
A place where the entire class can add
resources
Works Cited1. Online Classroom Magna Publication December 2007 Mingsheng Dai, PhD “10 Ways to engage Students in an Online Course”
2. Online Classroom Magna Publication ed. Rob Kelly “Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning Tools: 15 Strategies for Engaging online Students Using Real-time Chat, Threaded Discussions and Blogs”
3. EduCause Review Online December 2009 by Ed Webb “Engaging Students with Engaging Tools”
4. The Journal of Educators Online, Vol. 4, #2, July 2007. “Strategies to Engage Online Students and Reduce Attrition Rates” by Angelino, Williams, and Natvig.
5. University of Oregon, a division of the University Teaching and Learning Center. Teaching Effectiveness Program Blackboard Discussion Board “Generating and Facilitating Engaging and Effective Online Discussions”