Sometimes faculty will feel it is a challenge to get students to be active and engaged in asynchronous, online discussions. It might be that the structure of the discussion itself isn’t very engaging. Ask yourself if the posted discussion prompt would be engaging in a face-to-face course environment. If not, why? It can also be the case that the discussion itself is engaging enough, but students who have several other activities and concerns that demand their attention might forget to return to that discussion during the week. In that case, they might just need a reminder.
Here are some suggestions to address both variables that can improve discussion engagement in your online course.
Optimizing Your Online Discussion for Engagement
- Consider some of the strategies for creating engaging asynchronous learning environments
- Peruse a few guidelines on creating effective online discussions
- Check out types of online discussions that might generate richer conversation and more consistent participation
- Learn about responding to disruptions in online discussions
Pushing Communication to Students
- Direct students to customize how they receive Canvas notifications. Students can add their mobile number to receive push notifications.
- Encourage Canvas Mobile use
- Provide this short tutorial for your students
- Information about available push notifications
- Provide this short tutorial for your students
- Upcoming Canvas discussion features
- Create a Microsoft Team to push communication