It can be difficult to keep online students focused.
Every instructor of an online course has faced the challenge of keeping cyber-students motivated. The lack of a face-to-face relationship with the instructor and other students can diminish students' commitment to a course, and it can be difficult to keep focused on a class they aren't obligated to physically attend. Sometimes students join online courses because they believe they will be easy, and are inclined to be unmotivated from the start.
However, there are a number of techniques that have proven to be successful in keeping online students engaged. Education researcher Alan Roper asked 59 successful online learners -- each earning a 3.50 GPA or higher -- what helped them succeed. Their answers mirrored other researchers' discoveries on the subject: community, communication and interactivity are key elements.
Instructions
1. Connect with students individually from the beginning of the semester. Ask them to post introductions, and respond to each personally. Be specific -- "How wonderful that you train horses for a living" is much more engaging than a generic "Welcome to the class." Tell them a little something about yourself, too. If your course management system supports video or voice, use those functions.
2. Build a learning community. Holly McCracken, who runs the Liberal Studies Online Program at the University of Illinois at Springfield, discusses the importance of consciously developing a learning community in online courses, since the face-to-face element is missing. Students should have plenty of opportunities for structured discussion, collaboration and communication.
3. Form student work groups. A 2010 workshop for digital faculty at Carleton College emphasized the importance of highly motivated students' having opportunities to take leadership positions, as well as the positive effect that a sense of responsibility to other students can have on the less motivated.
4. Organize your course -- and your expectations -- clearly. Write up a detailed syllabus and provide all assignment descriptions at the beginning of the semester. Sequencing assignments can help provide a sense of continuity. Provide rubrics for assessment, especially in participation and interactivity. If you want discussion boards or other forums to work, you need to give students guidelines for success.
5. Communicate your own interest and enthusiasm. Make sure the students know that they are not an afterthought for you and that you are available to answer questions. Respond to e-mails within 24 hours, and post announcements and send e-mails to the group to remind them of important deadlines. You need to demonstrate the commitment you want to see in your students.
Tags: beginning semester, difficult keep, learning community, online courses, online students