Engaging the Online Learner

RITA-MARIE CONRAD has been teaching, designing, and consulting on online courses for nearly two decades. She consults on the design, implementation, and evaluation of online courses, and provides training to community college and university faculty. A frequent presenter on the topic of online instruction, she is also coauthor of The Online Teaching Survival Guide published by Jossey-Bass. J. ANA DONALDSON retired as an associate professor of instructional technology from the University of Northern Iowa. She continues her love of teaching online by working part-time as a contributing faculty member for Walden University. She also provides instructional design and program evaluation consulting and has presented workshops on using technology to apply the principles of engaged learning.

• Preface viiOverview of the Contents ixUpdates ixAcknowledgments xAn Invitation xThe Authors xi1 Learning in an Online Environment 1Engaged Learning in the Online Environment 4Guiding Learners to Engage Online 7Appropriate Activities for Each Phase 11Summary 11PART ONE Constructing Activities to Engage Online Learners 152 Designing Online Engagement 17Adapting Classroom-Based Activities 18Meeting the Needs of Online Learners 20Choosing an Effective Communication Tool 21Summary 263 Measuring Online Engaged Learning 27Analyzing the Quality of Critical Thinking 28Discussion Analysis Tools 29Rubrics 29Team Assessments 30Reflective Self-Assessments 34Summary 374 Learning to Use Online Tools 38Building Students’ Skills in Using the Necessary Tools 38PART TWO Activities to Engage Online Learners 495 Online Icebreakers 51Characteristics of an Effective Icebreaker 526 Peer Partnership and Team Activities 67Moving Dyads to Teams 687 Reflective Activities 81Characteristics of an Effective Reflective Activity 828 Authentic Activities 92Characteristics of an Effective Authentic Activity 939 Games and Simulations 101Characteristics of an Effective Game or Simulation 10210 Learner-Led Activities 114Activities Led by Individuals Versus Teams 114Conveying Outcomes 115Choosing the Type of Activity 115Adequate Orientation and Planning Time 115What Do Learners Think About Learner-Led Activities? 117Examples of Learner-Led Activities 118References 129Index 132