Student Engagement 

Student engagement in online courses supports student success.

• Engaged students are more likely to learn. When students are engaged in their learning, they are more likely to pay attention, retain information, and apply what they have learned.

• Engaged students are more likely to persist. Online courses can be challenging, and students who are not engaged are more likely to drop out. However, when students are engaged, they are more likely to stick with the course and complete it.

• Engaged students are more likely to be satisfied with their learning experience. Students who are engaged in their learning are more likely to feel that they are getting a good education and that they are meeting their learning goals.

There are many ways to promote student engagement in online courses. Here are a few tips:

• Course consistency can support student engagement by making the focus on the learning materials rather than navigating the course. A consistent course makes students feel more comfortable and confident.

• Use "Preview Learner" to view the course as a student. This is another way to be sure students are seeing what you want them to see and helps you when they ask questions. 

• Create a sense of community. Online courses can be isolating, so it is important to create a sense of community among students. This can be done through online discussion forums, group projects, and social media groups.

• Provide clear expectations. Clearly expressing the expectations provides opportunities for students to ask questions for clarity and provides them with the information they need to succeed.

• Use active learning strategies. Active learning strategies engage students in the learning process and help them to retain information. Some examples of active learning strategies include ask open ended questions, problem-based learning, case studies, and simulations.

• Provide timely feedback. Students need feedback to know how they are doing and to make sure that they are on track. Providing timely feedback helps students to stay engaged and motivated. Peer reviews can support engagement.

• Personalize the learning experience. Online courses can be impersonal, so it is important to personalize the learning experience for students. This can be done by using student names, providing opportunities for students to share their personal experiences/reflect, and responding to student questions and comments in a timely manner. Personalized experiences also supports Universal Design for Learning!

• Set up opportunities for communication. These can include virtual office hours, casual/ungraded discussion areas for appropriate student conversations or to ask questions, optional "live" meetings, solicit student feedback, and encourage study groups.

Collaborative Learning

Online learning often lacks a feeling of connecting to others. Collaborative learning can help reduce those feelings by creating feelings of engagement and support. Collaborative learning is teaching and learning involving working together toward a common goal. Students have the opportunity to support each other, share ideas, and learn essential skills such as teamwork and problem-solving. 

There are many benefits to collaborative learning, including:

• Increased student engagement - When students work together, they are more likely to be engaged in the learning process. This is because they are actively participating in the discussion and sharing their ideas with others.

• Improved problem-solving skills - Collaborative learning helps students develop their problem-solving skills. This is because they are forced to think critically about the problem and come up with a solution that everyone in the group can agree on.

• Increased motivation - Collaborative learning can help students stay motivated in their studies. This is because they are working towards a common goal with their peers, and they are more likely to feel supported and encouraged by their group members.

• Improved communication skills - Collaborative learning helps students develop their communication skills. This is because they are required to communicate effectively with their group members in order to achieve their common goal.

There are many different ways to incorporate collaborative learning into online courses. Here are a few ideas:

• Use discussion forums - Discussion forums are a great way to facilitate collaborative learning in online courses. Students can post their questions and comments on the forum, and other students can respond to them. This allows students to share their ideas with each other and learn from each other's perspectives. Clear guidelines and expectations should be set up and clearly explained. See the Discussions page for additional information.

• Incorporate group projects - Group projects are another great way to incorporate collaborative learning into online courses. Students can be assigned to work on a group project together. This allows students to work together to solve problems and complete tasks. Brightspace has built in tools for creating group discussions and assignments. See Create a Group

• Use online chat tools - Online chat tools like Zoom and Google Meet can be used to facilitate real-time collaboration between students. This allows students to work together on a project or discuss a topic in real time.