Engaging your Engaging your synchronous class synchronous class from a student's from a student's

perspective perspective Sheri Anderson, Faculty LiaisonSheri Anderson, Faculty Liaison

Beth Allred, Instructional DesignerBeth Allred, Instructional DesignerPatsy Gonzalez, e-Learning CoordinatorPatsy Gonzalez, e-Learning Coordinator

Overview Literature Review

Methods

Results

Literature ReviewLiterature Review

Literature Review Virtual classroom session design should

include techniques for keeping students engaged in the lesson Focus on interactivity

Inform students of interactivity expectations

Plan and inform academic requirements

Continuously improve interactivity over multiple sessions

Skillfully use technology

Have technical functionality and support (Keegan, et. al., 2005).

Facilitating Online Session Be prepared with resources and activities

Neutralize distractions

Set Ground Rules (e.g. type a “?” in the chat area if you have a question)

Use virtual body language (e.g. emoticons)

Use video for virtual body language (Finkelstein, 2006)

MethodsMethods

Methods Survey study

Quantitative data

7 item researcher developed questions including demographic information

Convenience sample of researchers’ courses covering 3 semesters

Deploy to 5 sections of Educational courses at UNC-Wilmington

Approximately 140 students received survey electronically

Return rate was approximately 15%

ResultsResults

Demographics 70% of respondents were from the millennial

generation (18-30 years old)

30% were from generation X (30-50 years old)

Strategies to Focus on Course Content

Check-In Strategy

Strategies for Types of Student Engagement

Impact of Web Camera

Student Comments Without the camera, I wouldn't feel like

I was being watched, so I would wander away from class.

When connection had "hiccups" then could read lips and know if there was more information that was missed

Facial expression and gestures communicate a lot when an instructor is speaking.

ReferencesFinkelstein, J., (2006). Learning in Real Time: Synchronous Teaching and

Learning Online. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Keegan, D., Schwenke, E., Fritsch, H., Kenny, G., Kismihók, G., Bíró, M., Gábor, A., Ó’Suilleabháin, G., and Nix, J. (2005). Virtual Classrooms in Educational Provision: Synchronous elearning systems for European institutions. Hagen: FernUniversitaet (ZIFF). Retrieved February 18, 2009 from: http://www.fernuni-hagen.de/ZIFF/synchronous.pdf.

Questions

Contact Information

E-mail – e-learning@uncw.edu

Website – http://www.uncw.edu/oel