BOOK: AOD Foundations
9. 12 Tips for Engaging AODs
Here are 12 tips for engaging learners in online discussions, summarized from an article by Goshtasbpour et al., 2022.Be aware of the diversity of your learners: Acknowledge the varied backgrounds and experiences of learners to tailor discussions that are inclusive and considerate of different perspectives.
Set boundaries and conditions for discussions: Establish clear rules and expectations to ensure respectful and constructive interactions among participants.
Ensure discussions serve an additional learning goal: Align discussion activities with specific learning outcomes to enhance their educational value.
Design tasks that encourage participation: Use open-ended questions and real-world scenarios to stimulate deeper engagement and reflection.
Have criteria for responding to comments: Select comments based on their quality or relevance to your expertise to manage large volumes of interactions effectively.
Ensure continuity when you contribute: Frame your inputs in a way that encourages further discussion rather than closing down conversation.
Provide a balanced ‘instructor presence’: Balance your role between facilitating learning (teaching presence) and creating a supportive, social environment (social presence).
Support and challenge learners' thinking: Encourage learners to reflect deeply on topics, pushing them towards higher levels of understanding.
Provide explicit academic leadership: Guide discussions by clarifying misconceptions, focusing debates on key concepts, and summarizing key points to ensure learners remain on track.
Direct social contributions towards shared goals: Use social interactions to reinforce the group's academic focus and foster a sense of belonging and purpose.
Acknowledge lurking and minimize barriers to participation: Recognize the value of lurkers and reduce barriers to encourage more active engagement from all learners.
Choose your teaching team and educator roles strategically: Select and assign roles within your teaching team based on the ability to engage learners and contribute effectively to discussions.