Increasing Student Engagement Through the Use of Technology Presentation by Raquel adams

Agenda:

1. Objectives
2. Dimensions of Student Engagement & Learning Suited for Student Engagement
3. Students Creating Content
4. Who Are Our Learners?
5. Learning Framework by Holly Clark
6. Rule of Thirds and Common Ways to Increase Engagement
7. Differentiated Instruction
8. Digital Literacy and Motivating Course Design
9. Adaptive Learning and Active Outreach
10. Fun Stuff! Gamification
11. Share reflections and Q&A

Objectives:

Today we will discuss how to utilize:

1. Student-Centered Digital Tools
2. Differentiated Instruction/Adaptive Learning
3. Incorporating Student Voice
4. Engaging Students: Motivational Course Design

Prompt for today's session:

As we continue, I would like you to make a few notes that we will share in the chat at the end of today's session:

1. Three things you learned.
2. Two things you'll try.
3. One thing you'll share...

Learning Suited for Student Engagement

• Communicates in multiple formats
• Provides active learning opportunities
• Makes learning social
• Gamify with badges and certificates
• Provides timely and useful feedback
• Adds self-assessment opportunities
• Improve accessibility for all

(source: D2L; https://www.d2l.com/blog/7-tips-for-increasing-student-engagement-in-online-courses/)

"We must reflect critically on the choices we make with digital technologies and constantly ask ourselves, who is being included and who is being excluded by the choices that we make..." - Dr. Todd Taylor

So then, why are instructors spending so much time talking?

Students Creating Content: Less lecture, more learning.

*Student-Centered Digital Tool: Adobe Express (formally known as Adobe Spark or Creative Cloud Express)

• Consider how you can allow space for student voice in your course and show students how to share the intellectual space.
• Giving students the chance to share their learning or lead instruction allows you to build learning communities in the classroom.
• If your students are using Adobe Express or Canva to create assignments, your course could be coded as a High Impact Practice: Technology Enhanced Learning.

Want to know more about Adobe Express? Join one of my training sessions to learn how you and your students can create engaging infographics, videos, and websites or presentations! Or follow @TanyaAvrith on social media to learn more about becoming an Adobe Creative Educator (ACE).

The Learning Framework by Holly Clark

1. Make Thinking Visible
2. Student Voice
3. Share Work

What technology are you using that covers all three elements of the Learning Framework? Want to learn more? Follow @HollyClarkEdu on Twitter and/or Instagram to get more tips on infusing your classroom with technology!

To increase engagement in asynchronous courses try following the rule of thirds which focuses on modules and content composition:

Divide content into a variety of media to create more manageable chunks of information for students to digest (aka Chunking).

1. One-Third of content = Photos
2. One-Third of content = Videos
3. One-Third of content = Text

(source: RMIT University; https://www.rmit.edu.vn/delivers/pedagogy/the-rule-of-thirds-of-elearning)

Common Ways to Increase Engagement Online

• Introductory Videos: 30-sec introduction
• Making synchronous sessions interactive.
• Share links to your dept website, professional Twitter, and Linkedin to give students an idea of your background.
• Provide prompt feedback with a variety of media (text, audio, video)
• Participate in online discussion boards, adding thought-provoking lead-in questions.
• Make regular announcements on a schedule, special announcements for due dates of major assignments, and feedback and grades from major assignments.
• Set "office hours" when you are available for online chats, videos, conferences, etc.
• Make your presence felt through consistent communication. (Hawthorne Effect)

(source: Iowa State University; https://www.celt.iastate.edu/teaching/teaching-with-technology/engaging-students-online/)

Look to the chat for another helpful template! I've provided a sample outline for your first synchronous class meeting. This outline highlights each level of engagement to ensure that you cover Behavioral, Social-Emotional, and Cognitive engagement from day one!

Differentiated Instruction

Have you considered offering options for completing assignments?

• Digital tools like Adobe Express and Canva can be used to create infographics, portfolios, short presentations, or websites in lieu of papers.
• Students can share their learning by posting a link to their project on a discussion board in asynchronous courses OR posting links into the chat during live sessions.
• Sharing links gives the instructor insight into the learning process while creating a learning community in the classroom.
• Remember if your students are using these digital tools to speak with the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence about having your course coded as a High Impact Practice!

Can that paper become a short video, podcast interview, or blog? Allow students to work in the modalities that they use most frequently in their everyday lives!

Video by Tierny English

Digital Literacy

One's ability to adapt to an evolving, virtual world. Giving students agency to evaluate and make decisive choices about the endless modalities and tools at their disposal to create and reach their academic and life goals.

Teach and nourish digital literacy! #EssentialSkills

Motivating Course Design

Consider the following questions when creating course content and lesson plans:

1. How can learning artifacts that the students produce become part of the course content?
2. How can I bring the students into the design of activities early enough so work is about student goals instead of course outcomes?
3. How can the activity/assessment connect to the student's personal experiences and expertise, becoming meaningful and relevant to them and/or their professional practice?

Try this activity! Have students complete a large individual assignment that has several components due every other week. Students then share each component with peers via the discussion forum and provide feedback. (Example: build a website or blog, this could be a fun group assignment as well)

Adaptive Learning

Consider the following suggestions to incorporate adaptive learning:

1. Change the communication sequence (flipped learning).
2. Allow students to learn at their own pace (no open dates, flexible due dates)
3. Make space for prior knowledge pathways (pre-assignment to test prior knowledge at the start of the semester).

Always be prepared to pivot instruction and try to be flexible with Adaptive Learning. Educators are most effective when they are honest about what teaching practices resonate with their students. Try asking them how they like a new assignment or activity!

Time for a poll! Use the session Padlet and use only emojis/gifs to share how you're feeling today. 🤩

Active Outreach

Consider the following when attempting to re-engage non-participating students:

• Social connection
• First-year students need more contact
• Encourage goal setting
• Eliminate hassles in the LMS by screen capturing sections of the course for easier navigation.
• Automate messages so that you don't forget to send helpful reminders during peak times in the semester.

Also consider sending videos:

• Pre-term outreach
• Course walk-through
• Attendance policies
• Explaining expectations/rubrics
• Midterm motivation
• Time management

Create an outreach plan/schedule each semester. Automate what you can so that you can set it and forget it!

Communicating Through the Course Shell

• Less is more
• Use media-enhanced messages: create infographics, and add photos, or send memes to make announcements more engaging.
• Be clear (explicit not Implicit communication)
• Precise subject lines (customized and searchable)
• Use announcements and reminders
• Send out messages of appreciation and support

Cognitive Overload? Let's get to the fun stuff! Gamification.

Did you know that STCC piloted Virtual Reality International Studies courses?

• In 2021, STCC piloted our first Study Abroad VR experience!
• My students visited Rome and Paris via Virtual Reality and submitted presentations on their favorite sites/excursions as their final via Adobe Express.

What is Gamification?

• Challenges and levels: Creative Challange
• Instant feedback/polls: Padlet/Microsoft Forms
• Badges and Leaderboards: HIPs Badges/Praise App
• Collaboration: Microsoft OneNote/Google Docs/Microsoft Teams

Start with something simple: Put questions on the screen and have students raise their hands, unmute, and/or use virtual reactions to respond. OR try gaining more detailed insights into student experience using Microsoft Forms!

"What was the most challenging part of your week?"

• Quizlet app: matching or flashcards
• Challenges/Contests: map to learning objectives; map students' learning journey (setting goals) as they advance through each level of course objectives to show proficiency.
• Praise app/HIPs Badges: customizable badges of affirmation
• Post leaderboards: pictorial view of progress (creates friendly competition).
• FlipGrid app: video reactions/discussions

Ready to try some fun stuff? Use the code provided to post in our session's Padlet!