Strategies to Enhance Student Motivation, Engagement, and Communication in Online Learning Environments
Concurrent Session 5
Brief Abstract
Online learning affords many benefits for students and faculty but also poses a multitude of challenges, including a lack of student motivation, engagement, and communication. This session discusses strategies for faculty to enhance student motivation, engagement, and communication with the goal of fostering a high-quality learning experience and thriving online culture for all.
Extended Abstract
Online learning affords many benefits for students and faculty but also poses a multitude of challenges, including a lack of student motivation, engagement, and communication. Both faculty and students have experienced a steep learning curve in terms of instruction, learning, and engagement since the initial onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is essential that faculty have the knowledge and skills to support students via distance education platforms, given the prominent and likely long-lasting focus on virtual learning. In this interactive session, common challenges associated with student motivation, engagement, and communication in online learning environments will be outlined.
Strategies, resources, and practical tips to effectively support students to thrive in online learning environments will be discussed. During this presentation, attendees will be asked to actively participate by creating a shared resource that highlights common challenges and practical solutions to enhance student motivation, engagement, and communication. Participants will leave the session with a copy of the presentation’s slides and a practical resource full of immediately implementable, tangible strategies to enhance their professional practice.
The Learning Objectives of this Presentation are:
1. Describe common motivation, participation, and communication challenges experienced by students and faculty in online learning environments.
2. Understand the importance of faculty and their role in promoting student success.
3. Obtain practical strategies to foster effective, high-quality, engaging, and thriving online learning environments.
By the end of this presentation, attendees should have a well-rounded understanding of how to best support students to remain motivated, engaged, and communicative in online learning environments. This session's ultimate goal is to provide faculty members with a “toolbox” of effective strategies to foster effective, high-quality, engaging, and thriving online experiences for all.