Engaging Learners in Online Instructional Environments

Abstract:

In this presentation, The COMET^® Program will share its experiences, best practices and tools for engaging learners in active learning. Based on our experience in online settings, learners need to be actively participating while they are learning. Lecture is not enough to maintain engagement because of the variety of distractions that learners have when learning in an online setting - family members, social media, phone calls, etc.

We’ll show you that with careful design and appropriate selection of tools, instructors can create engaging analysis exercises, questions to check understanding, breakout sessions for small group discussions/brainstorming, and active polling questions.

The presentation will also include suggestions for how to continue using these best practices to maintain engagement when in-person instruction resumes.