8 best ways to boost student engagement in online learning

Online education is gaining traction; in the past few years, there has been a significant shift toward online learning due to technological advancements and flexibility. Statistics report that the e-learning industry has increased by 900% since its inception. In the United States alone, it is estimated that over 29 % of US students are enrolled in an online course.

While online learning is very convenient And has great benefits, one of the most significant challenges is keeping individuals interested and active in the virtual classroom. Student engagement is crucial for effective learning; without it, students can quickly lose focus and motivation.

This article will share tips on engaging students in online learning for better results.

What is student engagement?

In this context, student engagement refers to their enthusiasm, drive, and commitment toward their learning. In other words, it is students' level of involvement in learning. It includes active participation, critical thinking, completing tests and tasks, and a willingness to learn.

Engaged students are more likely to recall information, participate in class discussions, and perform better.

In the virtual classroom student engagement can be challenging in the virtual classroom Let'sdue to the lack of face-to-face interaction, distractions, and technical difficulties. However, there are several strategies that educators can use to increase learners' participation and create a more responsive and effective e -training platform.

Why is Student Engagement Crucial?

Online learning seems to be the next best thing since sliced bread, but some issues and challenges must be tackled. Prominently is the issue of how to engage students in online learning, how to keep them focused, and ensure they go through with the coursework.

No doubt, student engagement is a critical component of the learning process. Pupils are more likely to be motivated to learn and excel in their studies when they are engaged.

1. Improves performance: Engaged students perform better academically than their disengaged counterparts. According to a reported study conducted by the National Survey of Student Engagement, highly engaged people have higher GPAs and are more likely to persist in their studies.

2. Reduces Dropout Raaremust understand how to engage students highly engaged people: The average completion rate for online courses is mostly less than 15%. This is hugely discouraging and emphasizes a dire need for an intervention. As a tutor seeking a better completion average, you must understand how to engage students in online learning. Engaging students online can help reduce the risk of student dropouts. A study by the University of North Carolina found that online courses with high student engagement had significantly lower dropout rates than courses with low engagement.

3. Enhances Learning Effectiveness: Students who are actively committed to their programs are more likely to learn and recall what they are taught According to. A report by the National Research Council, engaged students are more likely to think critically, apply knowledge to new situations, and transfer learning to new and practical contexts.

4. Builds a Learning Community: Engaging students in online learning can help build community and promote peer-to-peer learning. This can be achieved through various methods, such as discussion forums, group projects, and collaborative assignments.

5. Offers Flexibility and Accessibilitylacking: Online learning offers students the flexibility to learn at their own pace and on their schedule. However, this flexibility can lead to lacking engagement if participants feel isolated or disconnected. Engaging online students can help overcome this by fostering a sense of community and presenting possibilities for interaction and association.

How to increase students engagement via virtual learning scenarios

We have discussed the importance of engaging students online and why it is criticStudentlearners'let their learning. So let's talk about effective ways to engage students online.

1. Establish a warm and lively atmosphere in the virtual classroom

Let's face it: digital learning can become isolating and monotonous for some people. The absence of real-world social interaction and the solitary character of online learning mostly causes this. You must be resourceful and make the virtual classroom inviting, interesting, and simple to use if you want to assist your audience.

To engage pupils and make learning fun, tutors should employ engaging visual and media content. Additionally, it is important to promote student participation in online discussions, synergistic association activity, and Q&A sessions.

1. Employ activity-based learning.

This method involves students in learning and encourages them to apply their knowledge in real-world situations. For instance, students learning social media management can be asked to create a content calendar to prove they understand the lessons.

Examples of active learning strategies include problem-based learning, group projects, and case studies. These strategies can be adapted for the virtual classroom and provide opportunities for students to engage with the material more meaningfully.

1. Employ interactive and gamification tools.

Gamification has redefined the e-learning landscape, promoting active participation and enhancing engagement. Recent stats indicate that gamification increases students' productivity by 50%.

Learning can now be fun and engaging thanks to gamification and interactive tools. Tutors can give students a more interactive and fun learning experience by using online tests, polls, and games. Additionally, interactive whiteboards, virtual breakout rooms, and chat features can create a more collaborative and interactive virtual classroom.

1. Deliver prompt and detailed feedback.

Feedback aids students in understanding their strengths and weaknesses and is a crucial part of the learning process. Timely and specific feedback provides students with a direction for improvement and helps them stay engaged and motivated. Educators should employ techniques like audio and video feedback, digital annotations, and quizzes to provide specific and actionable feedback.

1. Use Breakout Rooms

Breakout rooms are virtual rooms that allow students to work in smaller groups during an online class or meeting. These rooms are typically created within a video conferencing platform.

workBreakout rooms can be an effective technique to increase engagement in online learning for a few reasons. First, they allow for more intimate, collaborative conversations between individuals. Students working in smaller groups have more opportunities to ask questions, share ideas, and get to know each other. This can create a more inclusive learning environment, which can, in turn, increase engagement.

Furthermore, breakout spaces might alleviate the feeling of loneliness that many individuals experience in online learning situations. It is more probable that learners will feel connected to their colleagues and the instructional content when working in small groups. This can increase motivation and reduce students' likelihood of disengaging or dropping out of the course.

1. Deploy whiteboards

Interactive whiteboards, also known as smart boards, are a great tool for increasing engagement in online learning. HereHere's the work:

An interactive whiteboard is essentially a large touchscreen display that can be connected to a computer or tablet. It allows you to display images, videos, and other media from your computer and then interact with them using your finger or a special pen.

One of the main benefits of using an interactive whiteboard in online learning is that it allows for a more interactive and dynamic experience. Instead of staring at a static screen, students can interact with the material by moving objects around, drawing, highlighting, and writing notes directly on the screen.

This active participation can increase engagement and make learning more fun and enjoyable.

1. Introduce extracurricular activities

e-learning can be more challenging than traditional in-person learning because staying engaged and focused while working alone at home can be harder. ThThat'shere extracurricular activities come in. When you introduce extracurricular activities, whether they're academic or non-academic, you're doing something that students will enjoy, and that gives a sense of purpose beyond just completing coursework.

1. Deploy smart and efficient work tools.

Your collaboration tools (like video conferencing programs) greatly determine how efficient and effective your learning sessions will be. With the right tools, students and instructors can easily communicate, collaborate, and engage with each other, even if they're not physically in the same room. For example, they can use video conferencing tools like Workee to have real-time conversations and discussions, ask and answer questions, and even work on group projects together.

Workee video conferencing tool is one such tool that is designed to aid online learning. It offers a wide range of features that make it easy and efficient for students and instructors to communicate and collaborate in real time. Some of its key features include:

• High-quality video and audio: Workee uses the latest technology to ensure students and instructors can communicate clearly and easily without lag or distortion.

• Screen sharing: With Workee, students can share their screens with their instructors and classmates, which is a great way to collaborate on projects and presentations.

• Take notes: You can take notes about your clients and other activities during video call sessions.

Workee also includes important solutions to manage your business as a tutor. Some of these include;

• Booking and scheduling: to enable your clients and students easily book sessions with you

• CRM: to help you manage your clients and keep track of your collaboration with them

• Financial hub: This helps you to manage your finances, track payments, and issue invoices

Sign-up on Workee for free and enjoy better efficiency in your tutoring business

To conclude

content engaging people online is crucial to the success of virtual learning. Tutors can improve student engagement by using gamification and interactive tools, encouraging participation, providing prompt responses, and making content relevant to students' interests. By implementing these strategies, you can create a more engaging and effective virtual classroom experience for your students.