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Engaging Learners with New Tools in an Online Environment

To actively engage today's millennial teenagers, teachers need to rethink their use of traditional strategies and tools, and consider the integration of the Internet and participative digital tools into instructional activities. 93% of teenagers are online, 96% of students have used social technology, and 71% of students use social networking tools weekly (Siemens, 2008). Social media and Internet connectivity have made information and content knowledge more readily accessible and not limited only to academic environments. According to Siemens (2008), both domains of access and interaction have previously been under control of the teacher; however, developments with technology and social software have altered how learners access information and knowledge. By leveraging today's new technological tools and strategies, educators create meaningful online learning experiences in the classroom that will fully engage students in the learning process.

The graphic organizer entitled Engaging Learners with New Tools and Strategies depicts tools and strategies grouped into the three Cs of student active online engagement - content, communication, and collaboration) that I have used to enhance online learning experiences in the classroom with my students.  An effective online environment for students provide opportunities for constructing knowledge and interacting with content,  communicating ideas with their peers and teacher, and engaging in problem-based, project-based, authentic learning experiences that supports collaboration. Actively engaging learners in an online environment empowers students to take control of their own learning, and creates a student-centered environment that makes learning more meaningful and personal.   

There are several tools available for teachers to include the three Cs of student engagement in an online environment.  Discovery Education, Khan Academy, and National Geographic are great resources where teachers have access to instructional resources, tools, and multimedia to increase student achievement in all content areas.  Students are able to interact with these various forms of media in order to gain knowledge and develop a deeper understanding of content.  Learning modules and activities with multimedia content can be created to meet individual needs to personalize instruction of individual students or small groups.  For communicating ideas in an online environment, Google Drive is a great resource that allows students to create collaboratively or share their own ideas through documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.  For instance, students can work on a word document, and allow their peers to edit and provide feedback to their original work.  In terms of collaboration, Edmodo in the classroom is a social networking tool that can be used to engage students in meaningful online synchronous and asynchronous discussions where they are able to interact with their peers and teachers, and receive immediate feedback.  Teachers can post assignments, tests, quizzes, videos, and files as students work on collaborative projects with each other.  

Reference:
Siemens, G. (2008, January). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. ITForum.

Other blogs on this topic on which I have commented:

http://brandyhiett.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/module-4-graphic-organizer-2/comment-page-1/#comment-12

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