Presentation on communication, collaboration, presentation, and interactive online tools that can be used in a virtual classroom to engage learners of all styles.

1. Tools for Engaging Online Learners
By: Kelly Ryan & Kim McDaniel
EDUC 603

2. Importance of Tools
• Effective online classes include strategic
course designs and tools used to engage
students.
• Efficient and appropriately incorporated
technology can enhance student engagement
and participation throughout an online course.
• “Without intentional engagement of students,
little, if any, learning will take place.” – The
Quarterly Review of Distance Education

3. Benefits
These online tools are :
– Efficient
– Free or low cost
– Easy to use
– Provide rich experiences
– Engaging
– Ways for students to construct knowledge

4. Communication Tools
• Tools are engaging elements that enhance
learning in online instruction.
• Establish a clear communication plan for your
students.
• Set guidelines and expectations
• Evaluate tools

5. Blogs
• Student posts can include: short essays in
response to readings, brief interviews with
experts, reviews of artwork, etc.
• Personal Blogs create a means for student‟s to
voice his or her opinions.
• Creates an open discussion between peers
and instructor
• Learn to write for a wider audience
• Instructors can summarize lessons
• Younger students are engaged by blogs more
than discussion boards

6. Social-Networking Sites
• Facebook, Twitter, and Edmodo
• Younger generations enjoy being on these sites.
• Provide up-to-date course information
• Establish a common bond between students and
instructor. Ex: Hash tags, photos

7. Edmodo Example
• Edmodo is beneficial for educators
• A social-networking, educational website
that calls for student interaction and
learning.
• Beneficial tool to engage learners
http://www.edmodo.com/home
http://network.laxpower.com/laxforum/viewto
pic.php?f=12&t=1842

8. Skype
• Communication through voice, video, text,
simultaneous editing, and immediate
feedback.
• Online support available if needed
• User friendly
• It is a free download
http://www.teachingdegree.org/2009/06/30/50-
awesome-ways-to-use-skype-in-the-
classroom/

9. Communication Tools
• Technological tools promote learner-
centered engagement as well as peer
interaction.
• The tools can help connect teachers with
their colleagues, department chairs, and
other administrative resources in further
quality, just-in-time faculty development.
• Other good communication devices that
are simple to use include: Back Channel
Chat, ooVoo, Google Talk, Podcasts.

10. PRESENTATION TOOLS
• Nonlinguistic representations, graphic
organizers, note taking, and setting
goals/objectives are ways to effectively
utilize presentation tools.

11. Prezi
• Tool to create presentations.
• Webbed presentations which are non-
linear.
• Can include pictures, videos, hyperlinks,
and more.
• Engaging projects that promote creativity
• One can create a free account
Example: Great Jazz Bassists and their
Influence through the Ages
http://prezi.com/uh_7jvp0ykpf/great-jazz-
bassists-and-their-influence-through-the-
ages/

12. ZoomIt
• Instructor can „zoom in‟ on screen
• It allows the user to:
– Use the Control to zoom into the screen
– Turn the mouse into a marker
– Annotate
– Put a timer on the screen
• Works only with Windows
• Free download

13. Glogster
• Students can create book reviews, digital posters,
topic explorations, use video, graphics, and text
• Educators and students can express themselves in
unique ways
• Learners can interact in multi-sensory
environments
• Upload sounds, videos, pictures, utilize accent
images,
• Can name and publish Glogs
• One can create a free account

14. Online Interactive Learning Tools
• Enhances learning opportunities
• Engages students
• Should not be used to replace teacher but as
a tool to spark learning
• Free/low-cost but high-quality information

15. Animation Evaluation (Lamb &
Johnson, 2006)
• Does the animation contribute to the
effectiveness of the project?
• Does the user have control over the
animation sequence or speed?
• Does animation attract rather than distract
users?
• Is animation used in meaningful ways?

16. Animation Examples
• “The Labs” at the Building Big website
– http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/lab/index.h
tml

17. Interaction Evaluation (Lamb &
Johnson, 2006)
• Does the interaction contribute to the
effectiveness of the project?
• Does the interaction provide levels of
access or control to address individual
needs?
• Do interactive elements function
effectively?
• Do interactive elements contribute to
understanding rather than confusion?
• Is the result of interaction clear and
effective?

18. Interaction Examples
• Simulations:
– Monterey Bay Aquarium (Make a Tide Pool)
• http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/lc/kids_pla
ce/tidepool/tidepool.asp
• Gaming:
– U.S. Dept of Agriculture MyPlate BlastOff Game
• http://www.fns.usda.gov/multimedia/Games/Blast
off/BlastOff_Game.html
• Tutorials:
– Edheads- Virtual Knee Surgery
• http://www.edheads.org/activities/knee/swf/index.
htm

19. Multimedia Evaluation (Lamb &
Johnson, 2006)
• Does the multimedia contribute to the
effectiveness of the project?
• Are media attributes used effectively
without being distracting?
• Do the media elements address
alternative learning styles?
• Were media elements clear and easy to
understand and interpret?

20. Multimedia Examples
• Arts Alive Canada
– http://www.artsalive.ca/en/
• Arizona Opera
• Dallas Symphony
• San Francisco Symphony

21. Putting It All Together
• “A Dancer‟s Journal” from the Kennedy
Center
• National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
– http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Education/Conservatio
nCentral/design/daph_broadband.htm

22. More Resources
• Quizlet
• Google Resources
• BrainPop & BrainPOP Jr. (not all are free)
• National Geographic
• PBS
• Discovery
• Scholastic
• NASA
**An easy way to find National Geographic” and
add the word flash or interactive

23. Collaboration Tools
•Should allow for anytime access
•Often owned by a third-party company (ie.
Dropbox, Flikr, etc.)
•May require download or a fee
•Ease of use allows for an opportunity for
sharing information
•Contributes a social element to the learning
experience

24. Google Drive
• Allows individuals to store docs online
• Able to share with peers or keep private
• Peers able to view may also edit
• May use documents, spreadsheets, forms,
or presentations
– Variety of formats available: DOC, XLS, CSV,
ODT, PDF, RTF, and HTML
• Allows for organization through folders and
drag/drop options

25. More Resources
• Doodle, Meeting Wizard
– Online schedular
• Lino, MyStickies, Corkboard.me, Primary
Wall
– Online sticky note service
• Post memos, to-do lists, ideas, videos, and
photos

26. Resources
• Boulos, Maged, Inocencio Maramba, and Steve
Wheeler. "Wikis, Blogs, and Podcasts: A New
Generation of Web- Based Tools for Virtual
Collaborative Clinical Practice and Education."
BMC Medical Education 6.41 (2006).
• Hargis, Jace and Wilcox, Michelle S. Ubiquitous, Free,
and Efficent Online Collaboration Tools for Teaching
and Learning. Turkish Online Journal of Distance
Education-TOJDE October 2008, Vol 9, Number 4
• Lamb, Annette, and Larry Johnson. "Flash: Engaging
Learners Through Animation, Interaction, and
Multimedia." Teacher Librarian 33.4 (April 2006):
54- 56.

27. Resources
• Meloni, Julie. Technologies for Teaching: Strategies
and Pitfalls. Chronicle of Higher Education; 11/5/2010,
Vol. 57 Issue 11, pB22.
• Revere, Lee and Kovach, Jamison V. Online
Technologies For Engaged Learning: A
Meaningful Synthesis for Educators. The Quarterly
Review of Distance Education, Vol 12(2), 2011, pp.
113-124.