Engaging Learners Online
Whether you are developing online learning from scratch or converting classroom training to be delivered online, there are new best practices and guidelines for engaging learners. I have found these strategies to be extremely effective.
- By providing both synchronous and asynchronous components of the training, participants have multiple ways to engage with the material and their learning peers. Asynchronous activities, like reading whitepapers or watching expert videos, provide foundational knowledge to discuss when the group gets together.
- Facilitators must actively participate in online discussions. They can model the norms and expectations they set for the course. Facilitators can also offer counterpoints and additional resources to expand thinking.
- Small discussion groups provide the opportunity to discuss varying viewpoints about the foundational knowledge. In every course I’ve taught, whether for corporate clients or the University, participants claim that discussing ideas in small groups is one of the best parts of the online learning experience.
