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Engage Learners

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As faculty, you play a critical role in engaging learners at the beginning and throughout the semester. Consider how you might engage learners in the content, their learning processes, and how they learn with and from others.

Actionable Asynchronous Teaching Ideas

Consider creating a discussion forum space for you and students to share thoughts, ideas, interests that are related (or unrelated) to the course Be clear about the forum's purpose and use, and be a participant yourself!
virtual cafe discussion
Consider seeking classwide and individual student feedback on their learning experiences in the course Ask students what else might be done to help them to be successful
Ask for student input
Provide a first-week icebreaker in the discussion forum, and model for students what a response could look like Reply to students' responses with a specific comment
Icebreakers
Consider adding or making short, outcomes-relevant media (videos, podcasts, websites) Make it clear whether what you add is "required" or "recommended" to students
selected multimedia adds
Encourage inviting students to reflect on their goals and make a plan to achieve them Students can voluntarily send the goals to you or to themselves using "FutureMe.org" to revisit during the semester
student goal(s)
Select each image to view the idea gallery (select the “back” button on your browser to return to the page). Then explore next steps and additional resources below.

Next Steps

  1. Reflect on your desired level of engagement in student learning: What is Effective Fully Online (Asynchronous) Teaching.
  2. Review ways to follow student engagement using eConestoga tools.

Additional Resources

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Elan Paulson

Elan Paulson, PhD, has been an educator in Ontario's higher education system since 2004. Before joining Conestoga as a Teaching and Learning Consultant, Elan was on the executive team at eCampusOntario. She previously served as Program Director and as an instructor in professional education programs at Western University's Faculty of Education. With a Master's in Educational Technology, Elan specializes in technology-enabled and collaborative learning to support diverse learners. She has also conducted research on faculty participation in communities of practice for professional learning and self-care.

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