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Keeping students engaged in online learning is key to creating a positive and effective learning environment.
When students are engaged in the process of learning, they acquire the skills needed
for academic success and lifelong learning.
It can be difficult as an online teacher to find different strategies to keep your students interested. We have all used Pear Deck and Near Pod and are looking for alternatives to keep things fresh and engaging for our students. When looking for new platforms, it is important to cater to students' unique learning styles by incorporating hands-on and interactive learning activities that captivate student attention and provide a modern approach to traditional subjects. Here are some ideas across various subjects.
1. Digital Storytelling: Encourage students to get creative through digital storytelling platforms. Students create their own stories using tools like StoryJumper or Book Creator. This enhances their writing skills and allows them to express their creativity.
2. Online Collaborative Projects: Teachers can help facilitate opportunities for students to work collaboratively. Using tools like Google Docs, Google Slides, and Padlet, students can work together on assignments, presentations, or research projects, fostering teamwork and communication skills. This works great, especially for our DMSA students.
**Consider taking an assignment from K12 or Smartfox and suggest that students work on it collaboratively during live instruction. The roller coaster project in Smartfox v2 Science 8B would be a great opportunity for this! Students can plan together in module 7 and then create their own versions in module 8.
3. Virtual Debate or Discussion Forums:Engage students in discussions or debates using online forums or platforms like Flipgrid. This encourages critical thinking and effective communication skill. This is a great warm up or introduction to a lesson or topic. Online learners don’t get much opportunity to master listening and speaking standards so this is an awesome way to get that important work in! It is especially important for our English Language Learning students. Check out this If I Ruled the World activity and more (scroll ↓↓) from English-Speaking Union.
4. Online Simulations: Explore online simulations for various subjects. PhET Interactive Simulations, for instances, offers free Math and Science simulations that allow students to experiment with different variables and observe outcomes.
5. Virtual Field Trips: Online education sometimes has challenges for students to experience hands-on learning. But that shouldn’t stop you from taking students on virtual field trips. Students can go to historical sites, museums, or natural wonders. They can even practice a concept taught in class (like the alphabet) while exploring the world A-Z in this example from Awara Van Sumer’s elementary class. Websites like Google Earth, Google Arts & Culture, and virtual museum tours provide immersive experiences. Check out what a Day in Antarctica is like with Awara’s journey through ice experiments, tin foil volcanos, and CUDDLING SEALS!!!! You guys…seals who cuddle! Read about more virtual field trips you can take your students on with LITTLE TO NO PREP from you!
6. Digital Scavenger Hunts: Who doesn’t love a good Scavenger Hunt? From kids to adults, scavenger hunts are a fun way to get any student engaged. Design a digital scavenger hunt using online resources. Students can search for information on the internet to answer questions or complete challenges related to the curriculum. You can even create Escape Rooms using Google Forms. Watch this teacher build an Escape Room in Google Slides and use his Google Form template to bring one to your own students! Get your students away from their screens and walking around with this elementary math scavenger hunt where students find examples of math concepts in their homes.
No matter what strategy you use, remember to tailor these activities to the specific subjects and learning objectives, ensuring that they align with the curriculum and your students’ attention span. By recognizing and catering to individual learning styles and integrating technology, you can foster a sense of community and inspire lifelong learning for your students.
An engaged student is a motivated learner.
Have you tried any of these activities with your students?
We would love to see a recording and talk to you about what worked and what didn’t so we can share it with others!
Want to chat about how to incorporate one of these activities into your instructional time?
We would love to meet with you!
Want an instructional coach to support you in facilitating or prepping one of these interactive activities?
We would love to model alongside you in a live session with your students.
Be part of the Method Ripple Effect!
And reach out to any instructional coach through Slack or Gmail.
Your Instructional Coaching Team,
Awara VanSumer and Jen Johnson
