Online learning is an excellent way to connect with learners from a wide range of demographics, ensuring that they receive the same learning experience from anywhere. However, some users struggle to engage with the online learning environment because the course creators didn't know how to make online learning more engaging. Separated from classmates and instructors by a screen, they may have a hard time connecting with their online courses.
If you want to engage learners and provide them with a higher level of learning, there are several strategies for how to make online learning more engaging. Start by maximizing your online environment to increase the odds that the information presented will stick in learners’ minds.
1. Create active learning opportunities
Simply reading through passages, listening to canned lectures, and then regurgitating it on tests and quizzes won't lead to much learner engagement—nor is it likely to stick in learners' heads once the lesson is over. On the other hand, active learning engages more of the learner's mind and gives them a greater opportunity to connect with the material.
The difference between active and passive learning is stark. While passive learning involves simply taking in the information, often with little to no activity on the part of the learner, active learning invites learners to engage more fully with the text at hand. Learning opportunities that are part of how to make online learning more engaging can include:
- Problem-solving
- Practicing the skills learners have engaged with as part of their course
- Engaging in discussion about the content
- Combining skills from previous lessons
- Looking at case studies and real-world examples that allow them to apply their skills directly
As part of your online course content, allow learners to try out active learning opportunities. Don't just assign quizzes and tests to check learning. Instead, encourage learners to engage in real problem-solving opportunities. Then, they can interact more deeply with the content presented. These active learning opportunities are not just a different way to approach content presentation. They also allow for better assessment of overall learner learning. Not all learners can accurately present the information they've absorbed from a course through standardized tests and quizzes. However, learners can often showcase their learning in other, more active ways.
2. Try real-time course delivery
If you want to enhance overall elearning, consider the real-time connection with learners. While online formats cannot perfectly replicate the in-person learning environment, online learners will often benefit from live course delivery and real-time interaction. So a better approach for how to make online learning more engaging may include lectures as well as interaction with peers. Through Zoom-style sessions, learners can connect more deeply with their instructors, have the opportunity to ask questions, and better absorb the content presented.
Online teaching often means combining a variety of methods, including combining real-time and asynchronous delivery.
3. Explore opportunities for interaction
Creating an online learning community can help learner engagement, aid retention, and encourage learners to dig deeper into the material. In a face-to-face classroom, learners can connect directly with their peers. Pursuing an online education, on the other hand, means that learners may not have the same interaction opportunities.
But an effective online classroom includes a variety of interaction opportunities, such as:
- Discussion boards
- Breakout rooms where learners can work together in small groups
- Interaction in class, where learners are encouraged to ask questions and pursue results together
The average learner has a relatively short attention span. During a lecture, for example, learners may pay attention for just 10-15 minutes before their focus starts to wander. More active learning activities that involve interaction and connection can go a long way toward increasing overall learner engagement.
In addition to interaction with peers, learners need opportunities for interaction with their instructors. Not only does that mean instructors should be actively involved on discussion forums and offer feedback to their learners, but it may mean that instructors need to consider offering virtual office hours as part of their online classes, allowing learners to check in, connect, ask questions, and receive feedback on assignments, classroom participation, and more.
4. Utilize a variety of course materials in your curriculum
Whether in a traditional classroom or virtual classroom, savvy teachers are well aware that they need to use a variety of materials to capture their learners' attention and increase overall engagement. If your course materials consist primarily of textbooks and bland reading materials, chances are, it won't take long before learners stop engaging with that material. Utilizing a variety of materials, on the other hand, can help improve learners' learning.
If focusing on how to make online learning more engaging is a priority, include materials like:
- Videos, especially fun, short snippets that will help capture learners' interest or offer memorable content
- Images
- Memes
- Voice content explaining or going into more detail about images
- Virtual whiteboards
- 3D models
A virtual classroom setting may not allow for the same types of multimedia opportunities as a physical classroom, but it opens up its own library of possibilities. While learners might not be able to physically engage with learning materials, they can try virtual models and explore content through that online learning environment. Vary your course materials to reach the maximum number of learners. Keep in mind that not every learner learns the same way, and offer different opportunities that can help enhance overall learner engagement.
5. Clearly display learning objectives
No matter what type of curriculum you create, whether for a higher education class, corporate training, or a seminar, start by giving learners a clear look at what they're expected to learn in the class and its benefits. Learners in many online classes may not choose the specific class. They may have to take it due to work requirements, the need for a professional certification, or employment requirements. When this happens, deciding how to make online learning more engaging can help.
If you want learners to engage in the learning process, give them a clear look at what the process means for them and what outcomes they can expect. Lay out learning objectives for each session, and provide learners with more information about what they can expect to accomplish through the course. As a result, many learners will be more committed to achieving their learning goals.
6. Gamify learning
Increasingly, educators are using gamification to improve learning outcomes. Gamification is the process of applying game elements that enhance engagement in non-game situations, including things like online learning. Those elements may include:
- Scoreboards
- Badges and stars
- Points
- Rewards systems
- Challenges
Choosing the right elements for gamification is crucial. You want to keep the focus on learning and absorbing the course material, not on the game process. On the other hand, you do want to create a system with rewards that appeal to your target audience: your learners.
7. Break down lessons into smaller pieces
Often, online courses are based on large-scale requirements or segments. Those segments may incorporate a variety of pieces and learning objectives. Ideally, you want learners to absorb as much of that information as possible. However, if you present those objectives in large chunks, learners may struggle to retain the information.
As you design your course, break down lessons into smaller pieces. These micro-learning segments can improve learner learning, aid in overall retention, and make it easier for learners to identify any problems in the learning process. If you notice that learners are getting stuck on a particular part of a lesson, consider breaking it down into smaller pieces or doing a breakout lesson focusing on those elements.
As you break down your lessons, consider the benefits of micro-credentials and micro-lessons and how they can enhance overall learning.
8. Create a sense of connection with learners
Whether you're simply designing a virtual course or presenting the course directly, strive to create a sense of connection with your learners. In an in-person classroom, instructors naturally have the opportunity to connect with learners throughout the instructional period. You can check in, ask questions, and observe learners' faces and responses as they connect with the material. In a virtual classroom, on the other hand, you may have fewer opportunities for those types of connection. As a result, you must be more deliberate about developing learner/instructor relationships. That may include:
- Actively participating in discussion forums
- Checking in via messaging or email
- One-on-one virtual meetings or office hours
- Tutoring sessions with struggling learners
- Pausing to take learner questions during live sessions and chats
- Utilizing storytelling for a deeper connection with learners
If you're engaging in asynchronous learning modules, it's even more important to check in with learners periodically to ensure that they are receiving the best possible education and improving their overall learning outcomes. Strive to make learners feel as valued as possible. Let them know that you are invested in their learning.
Learn how to make online learning more engaging with Docebo
At Docebo, we provide learning management software that can help teams of all sizes develop practical online learning modules. Our LMS offers a variety of elearning solutions and templates that can help you take your virtual learning to the next level, improving learner outcomes. Contact us today to learn more.