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Encouraging Learner Participation in an Online Course - Teaching Principles

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “A learner exercising agency by acting in accordance with correct principles opens his or her heart to the Holy Ghost and invites His teaching, testifying power, and confirming witness. Learning by faith requires spiritual, mental, and physical exertion and not just passive reception” (“Seek Learning By Faith - Teaching Principles,” Ensign, Sept. 2007, 64).

Online learning in this sense is very similar to in-person teaching. As learners exercise agency to act, whether they are in Canvas or a remote gathering, they are inviting the Holy Ghost to teach and testify to them.

The following principles will help you focus on increasing learner participation in your online class. Seek guidance from the Holy Ghost for ways to use them in your online teaching.

Focus on Jesus Christ

• The Canvas course curriculum and remote gatherings are centered on Jesus Christ and His gospel. As you encourage learners to participate, their faith in Jesus Christ will increase. As a teacher, you can help learners connect their participation efforts to their faith in Jesus Christ.

• As often as you can, teach and testify of Jesus Christ. Do this in a Canvas announcement, in your feedback on assignments, in your inbox messages to learners, and in the discussion board. This will invite the Spirit into the learning experience and your learners’ lives.

Guide Learners in the Online Experience

• Sometimes all learners need is guidance from the teacher about what to do in the online class. For many, it is the first online experience they have ever had. It can be intimidating the first time.

• Tell learners early and often what is expected of them. Doing so can help them not feel afraid of the online experience.

Be Present in the Online Class

• A teacher who is “anxiously engaged” (see Doctrine and Covenants 58:27–28) and present in an online class serves as an example to learners about participation expectations. To learn more about this topic, see the “Teacher Presence in an Online Course” resource.

• A present teacher helps learners feel that they belong and that their learning experience will be relevant to them.

• A present teacher encourages learners to interact with each other.

Create a Sense of Belonging

• Learners want to be seen and feel like they belong in the class. Getting to know your learners and helping them get to know each other increases their desire to participate in class.

• Plan activities for remote gatherings that provide an opportunity for learners to get to know each other and bond.

• Use the Canvas discussion board and announcements tools to share more about your own life events. Doing so shows learners that it is OK to share details from their own lives.

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Discuss with Your Supervisor

Ponder the following questions and how they might apply to your teaching. Prepare to discuss them with your local S&I supervisor.

• Consider studying the principles of “Invite Diligent Learning” in Teaching in the Savior’s Way. As you review these principles, look for ways you can invite learners to be diligent throughout the week in Canvas and in the weekly gatherings.

• Review the “Teacher Presence in an Online Course” resource in the Gospel Library for ideas on how to improve your teacher presence.