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.
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