Student engagement is always a hot topic when it comes to online distance learning. As educators, we rely on the rapport we are able to build physically and many times struggle with recreating that same sense of community online. As a result, this requires those in an online classroom to be more intentional about student participation and engagement in order to involve our students.
One of 2U’s 3 aspects of the Learning Experience Framework, Feel, is all about fostering involvement through strategies for intrinsic motivation. “Studies have shown that students who are more intrinsically motivated are more engaged. They show up, they try harder, and they stick around when things get tough,” (Koblic, 2020). Many educators still ask themselves, “What ideas do my students have about keeping me and ourselves accountable for equalizing student participation and engagement?”
1. Set Expectations
This begins with setting appropriate and realistic expectations, while being mindful of the capabilities of the technology you have access to, and being flexible to adjust and try new strategies. Students should be part of all aspects of their learning with your shared vision. Involve students in goal setting and planning activities, and explain the why (Chester, 2016).
Adult learners strive when they understand “the why” behind what they are learning, reading, and doing in activities. Consider checking in with your students throughout the term, not just the beginning and end, on the progress you are all making towards achieving equitable engagement, taking notice of feedback for further action. Also your educator community whether it’s 2U, your colleagues, or other 2U faculty, can share their experiences and provide further insight into available resources and opportunities for growth.
2. Own the Learning
In a flipped classroom model, educators benefit from students having access to material prior to class. This allows students to come to class with some knowledge of the content for the week, which provides a great opportunity to encourage students to take accountability and ownership of their learning because now their professor is not the only expert in the room (Williams Beechum, 2020).
For example, allowing students to choose how they demonstrate mastery of the content, is a great way to not only assess their knowledge but identify the areas you as an educator need to focus on and intentionally allow participation to happen through a variety of modalities, allowing for diversity in digital access, for example. By doing this you are delegating authority rather than work while simultaneously providing equitable engagement opportunities. Jigsaw activities are a prime example of this in action, students now become experts and are tasked with teaching the rest of the class a subtopic of the content.
3. Moving Forward
The process of restructuring our classroom communities is one that is ongoing. Once an initial evaluation of the syllabus, content, and communication practices is complete, the next step is to initiate necessary action in your learning spaces so that the historically marginalized have space to shine on the stage that best fits their needs. Involving students each step of the way through self-reflection, intentional social learning, and formative feedback of their peers, you and the classroom community as a whole ensure that you as the facilitator are making space for those who may be alienated and that each individual student is equitably engaged from throughout their learning journey.
We encourage you to continue to view your classroom communities of practice using the lens of equitable engagement and share with us in the comments what works for you and your learners.
Read the entire series:
- Intro to Creating a More Equitably Engaged Classroom
- Step 1 - Evaluate
- Step 2 - Initiate
- Step 3 - Involve
Benbow, C. (1970, November 7). Students take ownership, find success. Vanderbilt University. https://my.vanderbilt.edu/camillabenbow/news/students-take-ownership-find-success/.
Comments
Post a Comment
Thank you for your input!