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How to Create an Active Online Learning Environment

by Contributing Writer

Overview

Distance doesn't always make the heart grow fonder. In fact, an online classroom that doesn't adapt to the unique environment of distance learning runs the risk of making the heart turn to stone. You can prevent this educational catastrophe by providing an active learning environment for your online course, which requires adaptation from the usual in-class model to ensure student involvement and to create a community within the virtual classroom.
Active Learning Online

Step 1

Require student feedback and interaction, which are necessary due to the unique environment of the online classroom. Instructors and students are denied typical face-to-face communication, so there is no furrowed brow to tell the instructor that a student is confused, and many students would rather not know than ask. Set a minimum level of feedback per day or week.
Step 2

Design your course so that the course goals, expectations, assignments and policies are as transparent as possible(reference 1). Detail course policies, expectations and grading systems in writing and provide thorough explanations for all assignments.
Step 3

Make yourself accessible and available(reference 2). Because your students will not see your face each week, students may feel that you are removed from the educational exchange that is part of learning. The result is possible disillusionment and a sense of anonymity. Actively encourage communication by providing your email address and online office hours. Develop an email response policy that your students can count on, such as responding to all emails within 24 hours.
Step 4

Choose assignments that create a sense of community among the students(reference 2). Group projects require interaction between the students and have the added benefit of providing real-world experience as most work environments call for collaborative work.
Step 5

Require communication between students. In an online class, students often post assignments on a discussion board that can only be accessed by the instructor and other class members. Students can feel as if such posts are written specifically to the instructor. Require that each student read and respond to at least two classmates' posts in order to facilitate dialogue between the students.
Step 6

Utilize any multimedia tools you have available. Real-time audio and visual communication, along with discussion boards and file-sharing, enhance the interaction between the instructor and students. If you have the tools to do a live discussion, use them. Also provide in advance specific materials---videos or notes---that can serve as a common foundation for a lesson.