Student engagement strategies for the online classroom

On the Faculty Focus site for June 29:

Cognitive engagement is important to student success in any learning environment. However, cognitive engagement takes on more significance in the online learning environment, where students learn in a physically isolated environment and often lack elements that typically engage students in the face-to-face classroom.

In a recent interview, Dr. B. Jean Mandernach, associate professor of psychology and research associate for the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Park University, talked about some of the strategies she uses to engage online learners.

Q: What are the characteristics of an online course that promotes cognitive engagement?

Mandernach: An online course that promotes optimal student cognitive engagement has three key characteristics, it:

1. integrates active learning environments with authentic learning tasks,
2. fosters a personal connection between members of the class (teacher-student as well as student-student), and
3. facilitates the process of learning in an online environment.

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