how to appear active for an online course

by Thelma Weimann 5 min read

Utilize call-to-action buttons (CTAs) to invite visitors to sign up for free for your upcoming online course, or pre-purchase it to save a spot in your class.

4 keys to staying focused and active during online courses
  1. Use headphones. It helps.
  2. Take notes actively. I see many of my students sitting back with the thinking they can aborb class material without taking notes, as if the class is like a TV show. ...
  3. Cameras on; mics off. ...
  4. Be present physically and cognitively.
Mar 27, 2020

Full Answer

How can I use active learning in online teaching?

Remember that your experience with online classes is going to be individual and you are in charge of your ultimate result. 2. Have Realistic Expectations. If your only experience with education is in a classroom, you might enter into your online classes thinking the same dynamics are going to …

How to test your online course?

Below are a selection of strategies that are used in Cornell courses for active learning in online teaching. Practice with Feedback Alternate short periods of lecturing (live or lecture videos) with time for students to apply what they have just learned and receive feedback. Students can work individually, in small groups, or both.

How do you get students to participate in online classes?

Alternative active learning strategies with similar setups. Test-Taking Teams 3: Students work in small groups to prepare for a test. Students then take the test individually and submit their responses. Immediately after, students retake the test in their small groups, working to find consensus on their responses.

What type of online course content should you create?

Jun 04, 2018 · 20 ways to boost online class participation 1. Make the guidelines clear You want your students to participate, be engaged, and do well. They probably want the same thing! But if you’re working with different definitions of “engagement” and …

How can I be active in online classes?

6 Success Tips for Online Courses
  1. Prepare Yourself for Online Classes. You might have taken an online class before. ...
  2. Have Realistic Expectations. ...
  3. Be a Self-Starter. ...
  4. Set up a Time and Place to Study. ...
  5. Engage with Your Classmates and Instructor. ...
  6. Fully Participate in your Online Classes.

How do you energize an online class?

Here are some tips that might help you re-energize your online classes and yourself:
  1. Expand your horizons – Attend a conference, webinar, or workshop relating to e-learning. ...
  2. Try using some Web 2.0 tools – If you want to reach a variety of learning styles, Web 2.0 technology is the way to go.

How do you keep your attention in online classes?

7 tips on staying focused at home
  1. Maintain a consistent schedule. ...
  2. Make a daily checklist. ...
  3. Set up a comfortable workspace. ...
  4. Minimize distractions. ...
  5. Remember to take breaks. ...
  6. Find online tutors and assistance. ...
  7. Communicate with your professor (and also your peers).
May 3, 2021

How do I motivate myself to finish an online course?

7 Strategies to Stay Motivated in an Online Course
  1. Think About the Reasons You're in School. ...
  2. Create Realistic Online Goals. ...
  3. Visualize the Outcome. ...
  4. Create a Sensible Schedule. ...
  5. Reward Yourself. ...
  6. Aim for Balance. ...
  7. Stay Positive!

How do online classes stay energetic?

So here are my top seven tips for how to stay awake during Zoom classes or meetings.
  1. Make sure you get enough sleep at night. ...
  2. Drink cold water or chew gum. ...
  3. Move! ...
  4. Take a short nap. ...
  5. Caffeine* ...
  6. Natural light exposure. ...
  7. Think about your body position.
Mar 21, 2021

How do you make an online meeting interesting?

9 steps to a more engaging online meeting
  1. Check your tech. ...
  2. Engage your audience before the online meeting begins. ...
  3. Establish roles. ...
  4. Plan free-time for interactive dialogue. ...
  5. Prepare an icebreaker. ...
  6. Create an interactive presentation. ...
  7. Use gamification to make virtual meetings fun. ...
  8. Send a follow-up email.

How can I stay focused while studying?

How to Stay Focused While Studying
  1. Create a suitable study environment. ...
  2. Set clear, precise goals. ...
  3. Create a study schedule. ...
  4. Along with a study 'ritual' ...
  5. Don't forget: Share your study schedule with friends and family. ...
  6. Block out all possible distractions. ...
  7. Try the Pomodoro Technique.
Apr 12, 2021

How can I focus on study at home?

Download and save a copy of the flyer.
  1. Establish a Routine. ...
  2. Have a Dedicated Study Area. ...
  3. Take Notes for Online Classes. ...
  4. Keep a Routine for Physical Activity. ...
  5. Don't Forget Your Social Time. ...
  6. Create a Study Plan and Share It with Others. ...
  7. Eat Well, Sleep Well. ...
  8. Avoid Multitasking.

How can I focus on study without getting distracted?

7 Ways to Avoid Distractions and Stay Focused on Studying
  1. Get organized with a to-do list.
  2. Silence alerts and keep open Internet tabs to a minimum.
  3. Break big projects into small pieces.
  4. Use music and headphones to cut down noise.
  5. Find the best environment for efficient studying.
  6. Clean up and organize your work space.
Aug 6, 2021

Why do students lose motivation in online learning?

The study found that participants' extrinsic and intrinsic motivation was lower in online education when compared to face- to-face education and the researchers put forward lack of interaction with peers and teachers as the reason why students are less motivated in online courses.

How do you keep yourself motivated and engaged during online classes?

These eight tips will help build motivation for online students so they can succeed—even with a non-traditional path of study.
  1. Set a Schedule. ...
  2. Create a Study Area. ...
  3. Give Yourself a Deadline. ...
  4. Create Rewards. ...
  5. Strive for Balance. ...
  6. State Your Goal. ...
  7. Take Breaks. ...
  8. Find Ways to Connect with Other Students.
Sep 2, 2020

What are the challenges of online learning?

What Are the Challenges of Online Learning for Students?
  • Ineffective Time Management.
  • Lack of Instant Communication.
  • Not Receiving Timely Feedback.
  • Not Receiving Clear Instructions or Expectations.
  • Share Time Management Apps and Resources for Students.
  • Utilize Educational Technology (“EdTech”)
  • Increase Peer Review.

How to do a live online class?

During a live online class, pause your lecture and place students into small groups in breakout rooms in Zoom to discuss a topic or solve a problem for 5-15 minutes. Instructors report that providing an interesting topic, clear instructions, and accountability helps foster productive discussions. For example, post the discussion prompt and instructions in the Zoom chat window, and ask groups to write their ideas in a collaborative document (e.g., Google doc, Google sheet, Jamboard) or post their answers in the chat window when they return to the main session.

When to ask students for input on Zoom?

This is a good activity in the first week of class

What can students exchange for peer feedback?

Students can exchange written work, videos, presentations, or other assignments for peer feedback. Providing feedback expectations or a rubric is helpful.

Why do you need a quiz in Zoom?

This helps them to check their understanding and to reinforce concepts, especially if you enter comments when designing the quiz. (link is external) to explain the correct and incorrect answers after they have taken the quiz.

How many students should be in a class?

Try adjusting the group size to see if larger or smaller groups seem to work better. Generally, we suggest around 3-5 students in a group, but it may depend on your class

How many due dates should you give students for a discussion post?

If you want them to respond to other students’ posts, remember to give two due dates: one for the first post and the second for a response. Student discussion posts are also a great way to start the next class discussion, identify areas of confusion, and encourage students to complete reading and other assignments.

How does discussion help students?

Through discussion with their peers, students may see additional patterns and connections between concepts, correct misconceptions, and organize their knowledge. It can also help create a sense of community in the class.

How to do active learning?

What is Active Learning? 1 encounter (new) information and ideas#N#e.g., by watching videos or reading PDFs in advance, or from a short presentation you give using Zoom’s Share Screen feature 2 engage with information and ideas#N#e.g., through discussions with their peers using Zoom’s Breakout Rooms feature and documenting their conversations in collaborative Google Docs 3 reflect on their learning#N#e.g., by spending the last five minutes of the online class session engaging in reflective writing and sharing their thoughts through an open-ended poll on Poll Everywhere.

What are the factors to consider when planning an online class?

Factors to consider include access to reliable technology and conducive spaces, student physical and mental abilities, and timing. For ways to make online learning accessible for all your students, please refer to CTL’s Accessibility Resource.

What is Zoom video conferencing?

Moving your class sessions to a virtual space, such as Zoom video conferencing, brings new opportunities for active learning and student engagement. This resource provides simple strategies that combine active learning principles with online tools so students can encounter and engage with information and ideas, and reflect on their learning. These strategies apply to both small and large class sizes, subject to the participant limit of your video conferencing program and license.

How to help students keep track of the given problem and directions?

To help your students keep track of the given problem and directions, you can broadcast the problem and instructions through a message to all the breakout rooms. Share: When your students are ready to share, close the breakout rooms so all your students return to the main room.

How does zoom polling work?

Polling is a quick, easy way to check the opinions or thought processes of your students by posing a statement or question and gathering their responses in real time. Zoom’s Polling feature allows for simple multiple-choice polls, including Likert-type questions that ask your students to state their level of agreement with a statement, assessing the level of student interest on a list of topics, or binary yes/no or true/false questions. Simple polls can be used at the start, end, or at select points during an online class session to engage and assess your students.

What to do if playback doesn't begin?

If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

What is active learning strategy?

Active Learning Strategies. The active learning strategies you select should serve the course learning objectives for your students. Remember, the goal of active learning is not simply for your students to do things, but to also think about what they are doing.

What is active learning?

Active learning encourages the learner to deliberately engage with course materials, concepts, and activities. Instead of learners taking on the all-too-common role of passive observer, active learning demands that students meaningfully participate in their learning by responding to what they read, watch, or listen to (Oliver, Herrington, Reeves). ...

Who said all learning is active, not passive?

For example, in the 1980s Mortimer J. Adler stated: “All genuine learning is active, not passive. It is a process of discovery in which the student is the main agent, not the teacher.” (Adler, 1982) And Sophocles, in the 5th Century said:

What is the role of instructor moderation and feedback?

The role of instructor moderation and feedback is essential when carrying out active learning in any classroom, but especially in the online classroom.

How to increase online class participation?

20 ways to boost online class participation. 1. Make the guidelines clear. You want your students to participate, be engaged, and do well. They probably want the same thing! But if you’re working with different definitions of “engagement” and “participation,” both sides will be disappointed. Set students up for success by giving your corporate ...

What to do when your lessons mention relevance?

Once your lessons mention the relevance of a module to a job, write a question or create an assignment about it!

How to explore LMS?

Explore your LMS from both the admin side and the end user side. Remember that admin features are usually more complex, and you may be seeing a screen your students are not. If you’re familiar with only the back end, your directions might not be helpful. 3. Make use of small groups. It’s easy to hide in a big crowd.

Why is online learning so stressful?

A major reason online programs can be stressful for students is a lack of understanding of how an LMS works. Getting used to any new software comes with a learning curve, and when paired with the stress of trying to learn new information and perform well, it can be one step too many for some students.

How to set up students for success?

Set students up for success by giving your corporate trainees clear guidelines at the start of their lesson. Define participation, and lay it out for students.

What is actionable feedback?

Ongoing, actionable feedback means the most. Even the most engaged students will check out if they feel they’re submitting assignments to a brick wall. Take the time to respond to assignments, promptly and with feedback that is more than a letter or number grade. Comment on long essay responses.

Why are open ended questions better?

The more open-ended your questions are, the better they are for discussion and retention. They’ll also prompt longer, more invested short answer test responses.

Why is compliance online training reactive?

For example, compliance online training is a form of reactive learning because it’s driven by regulation. Your team only educates themselves to avoid fines and maintain their legal ability to work. They might not be interested in the content at all.

How to pass compliance exam?

Theoretical knowledge is helpful for passing compliance exams. But there’s no incentive to remember what you’ve learned after you get an online training certification. If you’d like your compliance online training to be proactive, include real-time scenarios. Develop questions that require actual thought as opposed to yes/no or true/false answers. Let’s look at an example. If you’re teaching ethics, you will probably tell your team that they shouldn’t accept gifts from customers. In this case, the reactive approach would be to tell corporate learners not to take bribes from customers. However, if you make them think about it, they’re more likely to comply. For instance, show a corporate learner that accepting a birthday present may be seen as a bribe. Explain that it creates a bias. It warms them toward the gift giver, so they’re more likely to favor them. Explore different ways that a ‘bribe’ may be framed. The customer could pay the bill at a company dinner, or send you tickets to a game.

What is proactive vs reactive?

1. Proactive Vs Reactive. In the corporate eLearning context, the proactive approach is about making the first move. It refers to a trainee’s desire to seek out information. They actively want to acquire knowledge, so they look for relevant material. This interest will keep them more engaged in their online training.

Why is proactive learning important?

One of the most notable benefits of proactive learning is that it becomes a habit. Employees are more likely to seek out answers on their own and get a head start on their training instead of waiting for a problem to arise and then trying to remedy the situation.

Is knowledge retained in eLearning?

Knowledge is never retained if it’s not backed up with periodic refreshers. Designing eLearning experiences for adult learners requires an incentive-based strategy that rewards them for their efforts instead of publicly shaming them for incorrect answers or failing to complete the online training course in the time allotted.

Do mature learners want to know?

They have to know, but they don’t necessarily want to know. If they deliberately seek knowledge, they are more likely to remember and apply it. Mature learners respond better to reward than punishment. Incorporate this into their online training, and use it to develop their reasoning skills.

Is "proactive" a buzzword?

The terms ‘proactive’ and ‘reactive’ may sound like equally meaningless buzzwords to younger generations. The typical assumption is to class millennials as both proactive and reactive. They explore new approaches to work, which makes them unconventional. And in many ways, this break from tradition paints them as proactive.

What should the topic of an online course be?

The topic for your online course should be either a subject that you’re already knowledgeable about or are willing to invest in learning thoroughly. Either way, you need to be passionate about the subject.

What to do if you already have professional experience with your course topic?

If you already have professional experience with your course topic, it’s likely that you’ve put together content about it in the past. Have you ever written a blog post or created a webinar about the subject? Maybe you host a podcast or run a YouTube channel for your business in which you’ve discussed similar themes? If so, go back to these materials. Repurposing existing content into your online course will help get you started and save a lot of valuable time.

What does competition mean in online courses?

Having competition means that people find the topic relevant and helpful for them. It’s also a good idea to create content that can comfortably fit into an existing, tried-and-tested space.

What to do after a video is filmed?

After you’ve filmed your content, invest some time editing your raw footage. There are many free video editing software available, from iMovie, to Lightworks, and the Wix Video Maker. Try to craft a nice rhythm to your video by breaking it up into digestible bites.

How to get your audience to work on a topic?

Ask a group of friends, as well as your existing audience, what they think of the subject you had in mind. Test it out by sharing polls or online forms for your audience to fill out. You can make a short tutorial first, and monitor its performance. Then, follow up on the tutorial on social media or via email marketing campaigns, asking your audience if this type of material is something they’re interested in seeing more of.

How to test your idea?

In order to test your idea, use a landing page builder to create a page for your upcoming online course. Although you haven’t created the course just yet, you already know what it’s going to be about. Include a concise description of the course explaining what people can expect to learn and add eye-catching imagery to further reflect the concept. Check out these fully customizable landing page templates to use as a starting point.

How to teach a lesson?

Go in a logical order and try to make your ideas evolve naturally from one to the other , to ensure a smooth and frictionless learning process. Remember that teaching is about guiding your audience through an idea, step by step. To make this clear in your course outline, define an objective for each of your lessons.

What is the most important part of creating an online course?

One of the most important components of creating an online course is setting a learning goal for the course . However, there’s more to it. Every online course consists of various sections, and each individual section also needs to have a clear learning goal.

How to make an online course more engaging?

An easy way to make online courses more engaging is to stimulate the student visually. This means pictures and videos. The simplest method of using picture and videos in an online course would be constructing your online class more like a PowerPoint presentation:

What is the gender of MOOCs?

Gender. On average, the gender make-up for MOOCs is 53% female and 47% male. However, in some subjects such as engineering courses, the ratio can shift heavily, with up to 85% of students being male. Level of education. The majority of online course students are highly educated with a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

What does it mean to get started teaching?

Which means you need to get your knowledge together.

Why should you check with others?

When you’re dealing in a field where you’re an expert, it can be hard to recall the times when you were still new to the subject. What’s obvious and easy to an expert might not be the same to a new learner. This is why you should check with others. Ideally, you’d want two different people to look at it: First, a fellow subject matter expert, who can examine your material and comment on your approach; check if you’re missing anything, if you’ve accidentally provided incorrect information, that sort of thing.

How to keep students engaged in a course?

One way to keep your students engaged is to provide an early return on their investment. If a student feels they’ve learned something just from the first module alone, they’re a lot more likely to stick around. Nothing gets someone down faster than them feeling stupid or unproductive, which is very easy to do in a learning environment. Give them feedback, and an ongoing sense of accomplishment, and they’ll stick around.

What is the target audience of an online course?

The target audience is the group of people to whom you are writing your course.

How to be a guest on Office 365?

To be a guest, they need an email with an Office 365 account. You can then add them to your team using their email address.

How long does MS Teams stay idle?

if ms teams is running in the background and is not actively using it even though you are actively using other programs (so your computer is not idle), the status will still change to Away after five minutes. There isn’t any way to change this behavior.

How to remove available status in Microsoft Teams?

To override or block the Microsoft Teams away status from being set, follow these steps: 1) Open Microsoft Teams. 2) Click your profile at the top right. 3) Next to the Available status, click Set Status Message.

Can you set up a private channel in Microsoft Teams?

You can set up private channels for your team. This is useful when you want to collaborate on new ideas and projects or discuss sensitive information like employee offboarding, budgets, etc. Here’s a chart from Microsoft Teams about when you should create a private channel:

Can you add freelancers to your team?

If you have freelancers of temporary hires in your team, you can easily add them as guests and allow them to collaborate with you easily. Guests can participate in conversations and meetings and do the same functions as anyone else your team— share files, add new channels, etc.

Can you host a meeting outside of Microsoft Teams?

How do you conduct meetings with people outside your Microsoft Teams workspace? Many users don’t know this but you can host meetings on your workspace without requiring the attendees to be a part of your workspace.

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Lectures and Presentations

  • Assigning students to watch or listen to a 30-, 40-, or even 50-minute lecture can be one of the most passive kinds of learning experiences. Instead of this traditional approach to lecture, you can create one or more 8- 10-minute mini-lectures and include opportunities for knowledge checks, such as reflective questions, pause procedure, or asking students to summarize or ident…
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Readings and Resources

  • Existing readings and resources from professionals and scholars working in the field are an essential component to any course of study. A journal article, textbook chapter, or case study can easily be assigned, but it can also appear to students that they are simply being given a reading list. Why not assign students a case study that reflects a real-world situation and ask students t…
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Writing Assignments

  • Let’s say students are asked to write a 12-15-page research paper. To make this activity more active, create and assign multiple deliverables, such as an abstract, outline, draft, and then final, and incorporate a peer reviewcomponent. Peer review gives students the chance to actively engage with the course content and classmates on a deeper level....
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