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

Twitter

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”