The document discusses various tools and strategies for enhancing student engagement in online learning environments, emphasizing the importance of effective course design and technology integration. It outlines communication tools, presentation methods, and collaborative platforms that promote interaction and knowledge construction. Additionally, it highlights the necessity of evaluating the effectiveness of multimedia and interactive elements in educational projects.

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.