10 Web 2.0 Strategies for Engaging Learners

Welcome to Technology-Enhanced Strategies for Engaging Your Learners

What Should You Expect?

Barriers to student engagement

Strategies to overcome barriers

Suggestions for implementing the strategies

LOTS of opportunities to interact and share ideas!

What is Engagement? *

Participation in class activities/assignments?

Time on Task?

Deep, sustained effort?

Enthusiastic, curious approach to content?

* Do your students hold the same definition?

Barriers to Engagement

Social

Administrative

Learner Motivation

Break down the barriers; provide opportunities to build up engagement

Social Barriers

Feeling isolated

Lacking interaction

Missing social context cues (Am I being understood? Do I understand?)

Reducing Social Barriers

Goal: Create a sense of community.

FIRST CONTACT

Make early contact

Welcome audio/video message

INTRODUCTIONS

Ask students to introduce themselves.

SHARING / TEAMWORK

Provide opportunities for collaboration.

Reducing Social Barriers First Contact Tech Enhancement: Email Share your syllabus, contact info, resources Tech Enhancement: Azooca http://www.azoocacapture.com Embed a video message on your home page. Encourage students to reply.

Reducing Social Barriers INTRODUCTIONS Ask students to introduce themselves. Tech Enhancement: VOKI http:// www.voki.com This fun and easy tool will provide you and your students with various opportunities to show off your personality and share something fun about yourself.

Reducing Social Barriers SHARING / TEAM WORK Assign work that fosters collaboration & sharing. Tech Enhancement: BLOG http:// www.blogger.com A class-created blog will provide opportunities for you and your students to share resources and course survival tips!

Administrative Barriers

Missing directions/clear expectations

Lacking timely feedback *

* In published research, student-instructor interactions - including timely feedback – are one of the most significant factors in student satisfaction and learning.

Reducing Admin Barriers

Goal: Increase your interactions with students.

SHARE CONTACT INFO Be available to answer questions. REPEAT YOURSELF OFTEN State directions and expectations in various ways. PROVIDE FEEDBACK Vary your timing, amount, and manner of feedback

Reducing Admin Barriers SHARE CONTACT INFO Be available to answer questions. REPEAT YOURSELF OFTEN State directions and expectations in various ways. PROVIDE FEEDBACK Vary your timing, amount, and manner of feedback Tech Enhancement: SKYPE http:// skype.com An easy to use IM tool that makes your students feel as if you are available and provides opportunities for you to answer question, give feedback, etc.

Motivation Barriers

Finding online environment to be boring (lack of varied resources, sameness of assignments, etc.)

Procrastination

Lacking self-direction abilities (planning, scheduling, organizing, etc.)

Reducing Motivation Barriers

Goal: Provide support and engaging content

CHUNK LARGE ASSIGNMENTS Create smaller, more frequent assignments that encourage interaction USE CALENDAR & REMINDERS Post reminders about upcoming deadlines. USE MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES Create a resource collection from items on web.

Reducing Motivation Barriers USE MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES Create a resource collection from items on web (or have your students create them!!) Tech Enhancement: Protopage http:// www.protopage.com or Pageflakes http:// www.pageflakes.com Easy tools to help you create resource collections. Can also be used to promote multimedia resource sharing and collection by your students.

#10: Be Engaged