A couple of years ago, we looked at online learning as a “Plan B” to physical classrooms – one that had to be adopted in adverse situations. Now in a short span of 2-3 years since the pandemic, we have accepted online education as being a blessing in disguise.
A debate on pros and cons of online education can be left to another day, another blog.
In this article, we are going to talk about how online classes can engage students in a better way. There are several strategies that we follow to make the learning experience more interactive and interesting:
- Interactive Content: Multimedia elements such as videos, simulations, and interactive presentations are used to make the content more engaging. There are several platforms that can be used for interactive quizzes.
- Breakout Sessions: The class is divided into smaller groups for discussions and collaborative activities. This fosters a sense of community and allows students to interact with their peers. Communication among peers is much easier to achieve in an online setting than in the physical classroom.
- The Real-World Connect: Topics are presented with real-world examples to make the content more relatable and interesting for students. This enables them connect their learnings to practical applications. Students do small “home projects” before class and present outcomes and seek feedback during online classes (learning by doing).
- Chat and Discussion Forums: Students are encouraged to participate in online discussions through chat. This provides an opportunity for them to express their thoughts, ask questions, and engage with their peers without hesitation.
An online class is a safe space for students and they can ask questions in a number of ways. A more reticent student can use the chat facility and slowly move to video mode as confidence grows.
- Virtual Field Trips: History or geography lessons often use virtual field trips to museums, historical sites, or other relevant locations. These enhance the learning experience to great extent.
- Gamification: Elements of gamification are introduced in lessons and point systems, badges, or rewards are created for participation and achievements. Educational games and simulations are also used effectively.
- No Stress Assessments: Teachers can make assessments more interesting and take them beyond traditional exams. Projects, presentations, and other creative assessments that allow students to demonstrate their understanding in different ways. These kinds of assessments can cut down stress among students.
- Social Media: Imagine a class social media group or page where students can share relevant content, ask questions, and interact in a more informal setting. Nothing else can be more “with the times” and student friendly while being extremely successfully in keeping students’ interest.
- Regular Feedback: Students are able to understand their progress and areas for improvement because of timely and constructive feedback on assignments and participation.
- Collaboration: To foster a collaborative learning environment, group projects or collaborative activities are assigned. Today there is no dearth of tools that can facilitate real-time collaboration.
- Guest Speakers: It is easier to invite virtual guest speakers or experts an online class where they can share their insights. This can provide a fresh perspective and make the learning experience more dynamic.
- Questions: Live Q&A sessions, discussion forums, or anonymous question submission are powerful ways to encourage students to communicate better.
Online learning can be fun in addition to being a truly enriching experience. It has become an integral part of the way we learn and is here to stay. As time and technology progress, it won’t be long before this mode of learning becomes mainstream and we are proud to say that GoSchool is truly building fundamental blocks of the ‘fun online learning’. If you wish to know more about our hybrid structure & path-breaking learning ecosystem, click here.
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