The purpose of the presentation is to share a set of research-based practices that have been shown to increase student engagement in the online learning process. Such practices can be applied during the course design process as well as through faculty development and training. The presenters' focus is on teaching and learning approaches that incorporate real world experience as a way to stimulate students' interest and maximize the learning potential in online classes. In this session we will show how to connect the classroom to real-life through the application of course topics to student experiences, stimulating students to incorporate their own personal goals into learning, exposing students to relevant real-world resources and explaining the most effective methods faculty can use to share their experience and expertise with students. These practices are based on a validated model and have been found to be associated with student and faculty satisfaction and student retention.
University of Maryland University College (UMUC) developed the Best Online Instructional Practices study to identify the teaching strategies and practices that might be associated with student and faculty success and satisfaction. This multiphase study (2001 to present) examined two major research questions:
• What are the teaching practices that are associated with faculty and student satisfaction and success?
• How can faculty members best implement these practices?
Samples of courses and faculty were selected bi-annually based on criteria to identify successful practices in these courses and those practices faculty recommend or find difficult. These results were later investigated by an examination of the course and student evaluations of the faculty member's course for the same semester.
In this presentation, we will focus on some specific practices related to connecting real-life experience to student learning. These practices were observed in the courses and recommended by faculty/ students and included:
• Provide an interactive environment to replace the face-to-face contact and to engage students in meaningful interactions. This includes active involvement of students and application of their varied backgrounds to the material
• Enrich courses with real applications of course material and link to students' and faculty's own experiences
• Introduce students to cultures and sub-cultures to add relevance to the material
• Assure a knowledgeable faculty who will provide careful attention to students' needs and engage them with real world issues, and provide feedback highlighting experiences and relevance
• Include experiences and real examples into the feedback on students' contributions to discussions, assignments, exams, projects.
• Develop an organized course design rich with e-content and resources that make the subject matter interesting to engage students using logical and regular assignments, related learning modules, simulations/role plays, and multi-media incorporating current events of relevance to students.
• Engage students in group work tackling current problems and issues.
Courses using these practices, and others identified in the study, were found likely to promote strong faculty and student satisfaction, and low student withdrawal rates. Positive learning outcomes in classes where such practices are implemented have also been documented.
