Creative and Proven Ways to Keep Students Engaged

1. Creative and Proven Ways to Keep Students Engaged Jennifer Matthews Director, Solutions and Training Blackboard Inc.

2. Session Objectives • Discuss why students disengage • Identify online instructor roles • Explore how Blackboard Learn™ can aid each role • Learn something new!

3. It’s a Brainstorm! – Why do students disengage? Brainstorm Activity:Think about the question below. Turn to a neighbor, introduce yourselves and name one or two reasons. Why do students disengageor even drop from courses, either online or face-to-face?

4. Why Do Student Disengage?

5. Guiding Practices for Instruction Chickering, Arthur & Ehrmann, Stephen C. (1996). Implementing the Seven Principles: Technology as Lever [Electronic version]. Retrieved September 8, 2005 from TLT Group http://www.tltgroup.org/programs/seven.html.

6. The Roles We Play as Online Instructors M I R R O R Five Roles I Play in Online Coursesby Scot Headley

7. Serving as Space Planner “The first responsibility of online instructors is to plan their course space by using the functionality and activities of the online course to create abundant opportunities for interaction within an easily navigable interface.” Reference: “Five Roles I Play in Online Courses,” Scot Headley

8. Do Student Feel Like This? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK1O8jQlVlY

9. Planning is Key! Level 1:Course Menu Level 2:Content Area Level 3:Inside a Folder orLearning Unit/Module Items, Files Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Unit 1

10. Consistent Design

11. Lesson Design – eCLASS Model • E = Explain • C = Clarify • L = Look • A = Act • S = Share • S = Self Evaluate/Submit Source:Creating a Guide to Online Course Development For Distance Learning Faculty Dr. Steven M. Gerson, English Professor, Johnson County CChttp://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter34/gerson34.html

12. Easing Navigation with a Course Legend

13. The Roles We Play as Online Instructors M I R R O R Five Roles I Play in Online Coursesby Scot Headley

14. Serving as Host “In the host role, online instructors draw students into the experience of online learning and respond to student needs and concerns with a patient, welcoming, attentive attitude.” Reference: “Five Roles I Play in Online Courses,” Scot Headley

15. The Roles We Play as Online Instructors M I R R O R Five Roles I Play in Online Coursesby Scot Headley

16. Put Out the Welcome Mat!

17. Keep Out the Welcome Mat • Publish near the beginning • Publish before mid-term • Publish near close • Publish at close of course

18. Orientation Options • Face-to-Face Orientation in Lab Setting • Unit in Online Course • Scavenger Hunt • Ice Breaker Activity with Discussion Board • Practice submitting assignments/taking test • Email • Pre-Course Greeting • How to log on/how to contact you • Links to student tutorials • Contact information for help desk • Dynamic FAQ

19. Course Organizer

20. Serving as Pace Setter “Satisfactory experiences for the instructor and student in an Internet-based course require the recognition that the preparation, activities, and commitments are a bit different than those of face-to-face courses.” Reference: “Five Roles I Play in Online Courses,” Scot Headley

21. Exemplary Design Rubric Highlights • Content is presented in manageable segments • Align with syllabus/course outline/text • Content is made available via a variety of appropriate mechanisms • Incorporate folders, learning modules/units, external lists • Course design encourages critical reflection and analysis of content • Use a variety of text and multimedia, inspire student inquiry

22. Exemplary Course Case Study • Institution: Kamehameha Schools • Course Title: Hawaiian Culture

23. Individualize with Adaptive Release • Ability for an instructor to create custom learning paths through a course • Promotes differentiated instruction • Content items, discussions, assessments, assignments, or other activities can be released to students based on a set of criteria including: • Date / time • Username • Group membership • Grade on a test • Assignment grade • Review of another piece of content

24. Use Cases • Individualization • Target multiple skill levels with remediation/enrichment materials • Assign different group projects • Keep the Cohort together • Block advancement • Make-up Assignments/Assessments • Reveal Content as Needed

25. Adaptive Release

26. Adaptive Release

27. The Roles We Play as Online Instructors M I R R O R Five Roles I Play in Online Coursesby Scot Headley

28. Serving as a Connector "My connector role requires me to help participants make connections with each other, with the course content, and between their work in the course and their work outside the course space.” Reference: “Five Roles I Play in Online Courses,” Scot Headley

29. Build Connections Among Students • Personal Reflections (Journal/Blogs) • Student “Teachers” (Discussion Leaders) • ‘Networking’ Discussions • Students Helping One Another (FAQ/Study Groups) • Group Activities

30. Connect with Content: Before

31. After

32. graphic Sub header white space chart

33. Alternative Assessment Approaches • Individualized Projects • Brief self-tests • Portfolios and collections • Designs and drawings • Original plays, stories, dances, poetry • Graded discussion questions • Self and peer review activities • Reflective journals, blogs • One minute papers • Contributions to digital archives • Case studies • Lab experiments • Web pages

34. Blackboard Learn - Question Types • Calculated Formula • Calculated Numeric • Either/Or • File Response • Fill in Multiple Blanks • Hotspot • Jumbled Sentence • Opinion Scale/Likert • Quiz Bowl • Short Answer Advanced Question Types Basic Question Types • Matching • Multiple Answer • Multiple Choice • Ordering • True/False • Essay • Fill in the Blank

35. Use Multimedia In Questions

36. The Roles We Play as Online Instructors M I R R O R Five Roles I Play in Online Coursesby Scot Headley

37. Serving as Mirror “My personal goals within this role are to help individuals have an external guide to their mastery of the course content, to inform individuals of their level of success in fulfilling community commitments, and to encourage and challenge the group as a whole.” Reference: “Five Roles I Play in Online Courses,” Scot Headley

38. Role Model People reallydofollow the leader

39. Serving as a Mirror • Quizzes as Learning Tools • Timely Feedback • Rubrics • Grade Center/Gradebook • Messages/Email • Chat • And don’t forget the phone! • Opportunities for Feedback to us!

40. New features include: Handling multiple attempts of quizzes, tests and surveys Support for extra credit questions More granular feedback options Export, Store, Import Students will benefit from: A true self-assessment option Student-Centered Learning Assessment Features

41. Timely Feedback

42. My Grades View

43. The Roles We Play as Online Instructors M I R R O R Role Model, Timely Feedback, Alternative Assessments Five Roles I Play in Online Coursesby Scot Headley

44. Guiding Practices for Instruction Chickering, Arthur & Ehrmann, Stephen C. (1996). Implementing the Seven Principles: Technology as Lever [Electronic version]. Retrieved September 8, 2005 from TLT Group http://www.tltgroup.org/programs/seven.html.

45. Session Objectives • Discuss disengagement • Identify online Instructor Roles • Explore how Blackboard Learn can aid each role • Learn something new!

46. Thank You! Questions?