Engaging students is hard enough in the physical classroom, but the tactics you use in person might work just as well online. And surprisingly, incorporating tried and tested working methods to engage students in learning isn’t as hard as it seems.
Like online courses, blended teaching, or what we now call hybrid learning, isn’t anything new — most importantly, it isn’t going away. In fact, all signs point to it being the future of learning. But for it to be as effective as in-person courses, it’s essential to ensure your students are soaking in the material.
Keep reading to learn Instructional Connections’ top tips for keeping students engaged in your university’s courses and how a virtual teaching assistant can help!
Help Students Create a Routine
To engage students from the get-go, give them some ideas to set a routine for their asynchronous work time. One example of this would be adding a post to the discussion board before starting their work for the class. This can be as simple as discussing what they did the previous weekend or what they’re looking forward to learning on the syllabus.
These simple routines at the beginning of each class can help students make natural connections with one another (and their professor) and open up — especially in an asynchronous setting.
If you have a virtual teaching assistant in your classroom, this is a perfect opportunity to help them get involved and connected to your students. If students feel comfortable with your virtual TA, they will also feel comfortable approaching a professor.
Use Interactive Content & Materials
This should probably go without saying, but it’s imperative to show students more than just a lecture packed with facts and instructions — all students learn differently. Professors should consider preparing or finding materials on certain topics that are easy to digest or designed to be more engaging. This will help lessons be more interactive and will naturally encourage student participation.
- Try using videos or varied media in your online or hybrid course — they’ve proven valuable and engaging in education.
- For both synchronous and asynchronous online learning, you can use a digital whiteboard to present information and solve problems with your students, show pictures and charts, and play clips, podcasts, and YouTube videos.
- The internet is your friend! With the rise of virtual learning and a surplus of online materials, you can find interactive videos, quizzes, and other assets that supplement your lesson material.
Incorporating a virtual teaching assistant into the classroom can help open up time for professors. Some professors may have their virtual TAs facilitate asynchronous discussions and other tasks.
Utilize Class Forums or Discussion Boards
Some students are more comfortable typing out their thoughts than sharing them in a recorded video format in class.
An online discussion space is an excellent opportunity for everyone to participate, give their opinion, become familiar with other students’ views, and learn proper etiquette for professional discussions. This learning activity also allows students to think about the question and form their thoughts and opinions at their own pace. Sometimes, the pressure of immediately answering a question in class or the anxiety of recording a video response causes students to freeze and have trouble giving their highest quality answers.
Virtual TAs have many roles in the classroom, but the program or professor’s needs always determine these roles. While some professors may have their Virtual TA monitor and respond to student questions and forum responses, some may want to do this independently to connect with their students.
Virtual Teaching Assistants for Every University
At Instructional Connections, we make life easier for your professors. By providing support only where it’s needed, our virtual TAs allow your faculty members of record to focus on class engagement, course delivery, and student outcomes.
Learn more about our virtual teaching assistants and see how they can work for your university program.
