Encouraging Learner Participation in an Online Course - Opportunities and Challenges

Think back to your most recent teaching experience in Canvas or a remote gathering. How would you describe your learners’ participation? How did that level of participation impact your class? Consider some of the following common challenges expressed by online teachers:

• How can I measure learner participation in my Canvas courses?

• How can I encourage a learner to participate in Canvas if they only come to the remote gathering?

• How do I help learners make more meaningful responses in online discussions, Canvas assignments, and remote gatherings?

Training materials like these can give you tools to overcome these challenges. Seek the guidance of the Spirit to help you.

Opportunities

• Because of Canvas, teachers have more opportunities to observe learner participation than they do in a traditional classroom.

• In an online class, teachers can be visible in ways other than standing in front of a classroom. More varied teacher interactions can increase learner participation.

• Many of the same in-classroom strategies teachers use to encourage participation can work in remote gatherings, such as breaking up into small groups, using the whiteboard, and doing polls. Trying different teaching strategies can add variety to the learner’s experience.

Challenges

• Some online learners might not participate because their internet access is unstable or unreliable.

• Learners can feel isolated in an online class when they are not in the same room as other participants. This can decrease their motivation to participate if they do not feel like they belong.

• If learners are not guided and supported by teachers in the online learning experience, they can sometimes feel unsure of what to do. This decreases their desire to engage in the learning experience.

Discuss with Your Supervisor

Ponder the following questions and how they might apply to your teaching. Prepare to discuss them with your local Seminaries and Institutes of Religion (S&I) supervisor.

• What are the biggest challenges you personally face with learner engagement in class?

• What does Teaching in the Savior’s Way say about how important participation is for the learning experience?