Student Engagement in Distance Learning: Facilitating Communication & Implementing Appropriate Learning Strategies

Student engagement is by far one of the most challenging aspects of instruction and “maintaining student engagement is no small feat” (Peterson-Ahmad, 2021). As educators, our goal is to teach students new information and help them make connections to prior knowledge and experiences. Keeping students interested in our content can be a challenge for classroom teachers whether students are K-12 or adults. The concern for student engagement becomes even more significant when courses are conducted exclusively online. In distance education, students are separated from their instructor which makes engagement difficult to gauge. In Five Ways to Engage Students in an Online Learning Environment, the author states that by “applying some of the same traditional methods for engagement that incorporate the use of free and readily-available technology, engagement in an online learning environment is achievable” (Peterson-Ahmad, 2021). 

“Learners who are engaged in learning are actively participating in their own understanding of the content” (Simonson et al., 2019, p. 181). For this reason, distance educators must focus on student engagement. Simonson et al. define learner engagement as “emotional and intellectual involvement or commitment–the participation in learning activities via interaction with others in meaningful ways” (2019, p. 208). They go on to emphasize the importance of this interaction between individuals and they highlight the significance of team activities. According to them, the “purpose of engagement is to expect students to take responsibility for their own learning” (Simonson et al., 2019, p. 208). Accountability is crucial to remote learners and research on distance education clearly identifies communication as an important factor in student learning. 

Interactions between students are one of the main ways that instructors can maintain engagement throughout a course. With classroom instruction and blended learning courses, the interactions between students can take place in person. When courses are conducted exclusively online, however, it is the role of the instructor to facilitate these interactions. Simonson et al. (2019) recommend using group projects, peer reviews, and multiple channels of communication to engage students in distance learning environments. Hutton and Robson (2019) found that building a strong community can be particularly beneficial to distance learners. They evaluated the benefits of an online forum where students could interact with one another and communicate regarding course content. They concluded that “developing an online learning community can help to improve student success” (Hutton & Robson, 2019, p.1). According to Chaka et al. “instructors should always encourage all students to participate in whatever way possible on virtual platforms” (2022, p. 144). Effective communication between students can increase engagement, but it is not the only way to keep students motivated to participate in online courses.

Another important way for distance instructors to facilitate student engagement is by selecting suitable instructional materials “that engage all the learners in active learning” (Simonson et al., 2019, p. 139). Oftentimes educators in both the classroom and the online learning environment are guilty of using technology just for the sake of using it. This is never good practice and it certainly will not keep learners engaged. “The key to using quality instructional materials is for the appropriate medium to be selected” (Simonson et al., 2019, pp. 181-182). Distance educators have to think of technology as the instrument for delivering instruction and focus their efforts on the most effective strategies to use. The “technology used in distance learning should be considered a tool to deliver the instruction and not as a method” (Simonson et al., 2019, p. 183). Simonson et al. claim that it is best to utilize a range of instructional methods that focus on learners, incorporate interactivity, match learning outcomes, encourage student interactions, and engage learners in “active rather than passive learning experiences” (2019, p. 183).

Keeping learners engaged will always be a challenge, but educators who stay in touch with their students and keep up with current trends in both education and technology can keep their students involved and encourage active learning. By focusing on students’ interactions and implementing effective learning strategies distance educators, as well as classroom instructors, can maintain student engagement in course content and help students make connections to the material. Below are a few more resources on ways to keep students engaged in distance learning environments:

9 Principles Of Student Engagement In A Virtual Classroom	Promoting Student Engagement in Your Online/DL Course

References

Chaka, C., Nkhobo, T., & Lephalala, M. (2022). Leveraging Student Engagement through MS Teams at an Open and Distance E-Learning Institution. Journal of Education and E-Learning Research, 9(3), 136–146.

Hutton, C., & Robson, J. (2019). Breaking Barriers, Building Community: Improving Student Engagement with Preparation for Studying Online Multidisciplinary Science by Distance Learning -- A Case Study. New Directions in the Teaching of Physical Sciences, 14(1).

Peterson-Ahmad, M. B. (2021, January 27). Five ways to engage students in an online learning environment. Higher Ed Teaching & Learning: Higher Ed Teaching Strategies from Magna Publications. https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/online-course-delivery-and-instruction/five-ways-to-engage-students-in-an-online-learning-environment/

Simonson, M., Zvacek, S., Smaldino, S. (2019). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (7th ed.). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.