Engaging Online Learning

Ongoing application of best practices for engaging online learning in higher education courses through BYU Online

September 2020 to May 2023

Students in online higher education courses need a variety of interactions to be engaged 

 Assistant Designer

We build, implement and support faculty in methods to overcome social, administrative, and motivational barriers.

• To overcome social barriers we encourage initial contact before the course begins, and create introductory activities and opportunities for learner interaction through discussions, TA sessions, Perusall, or other collaborative activities.
• To overcome administrative barriers, we ensure contact methods and hours for instructors and TA are clear and students feel supported, clearly communicated directions and instructions, and encourage effective feedback with rubrics.
• To encourage motivation we try to chunk content into manageable pieces, text or video, and various learning modalities with Canvas tools or other embedded apps such as Quizlet, H5P, GoReact, and Perusall.

It’s always a challenge to integrate tools to function properly within Canvas, to quickly explain to students how to use a new-to-them tool. Making the experience as smooth as possible for students ensures they’re more focused on engaging and learning than troubleshooting technology snags.

In feedback on the courses, students frequently mention engagement with groups and peers as beneficial to their learning.