How To Increase Student Engagement in Online Learning & Boost Success

Online learning can feel like a ghost town. Instructors kick off courses enthusiastically, but when students don’t post in the discussion forums or stop attending altogether, that excitement dwindles. How to Increase Student Engagement in Online Learning can help educators recapture some of that lost energy. This article offers strategies for creating an engaging, interactive online learning environment that keeps students motivated, improves their academic performance, and fosters a deeper connection to the course content, resulting in overall success for both the students and the educators. It also highlights how to provide to students the necessary tools and support they need to stay engaged and succeed in an online setting.
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What Are the Key Elements That Drive Student Online Engagement?

Social Engagement: Building Connections Beyond the Screen

Student success in an online environment hinges on social connectedness. Activities that promote social engagement within a learning community create opportunities for students to discuss learning materials. They also allow students to develop essential relationships with other students and the teaching team, as they might do on campus. 

Building social engagement online can be as simple as asking students to share their names, why they chose a particular course, or even personal interests like favorite films and photos of their pets. These interactions increase students' sense of belonging to a group of learners. 

In addition, social forums and synchronous video conferences can be spaces where students:

• Feel supported
• Discuss their challenges
• Develop deeper connections with the teaching staff and the larger university or learning institution. 
  

Direct synchronous communication and teacher-led events facilitate social engagement and peer-to-peer learning through activities such as:

• Group work
• Breakout-room activities
• Debates
• Sharing learning experiences 

Cognitive Engagement: Challenging Students to Think Critically  

Cognitive engagement addresses students' ability to comprehend complex ideas and master difficult skills. This fundamental form of engagement is critical for online learning success. Activities that heighten cognitive engagement often challenge students' preconceived ideas on a given topic or problem, inviting them to rationalize cognitive dissonance by themselves or through conversation. 

Within the online environment, cognitive engagement can be facilitated through critical-thinking activities such as:

• Reflection and justification activities
• Learning tasks that ask students to compare ideas and identify solutions

Facilitating Cognitive Engagement in Online Learning

In addition, learning interesting, personally, and professionally relevant content that is current and transferable to other contexts will also enable cognitive engagement. The careful, considered means by which instructional design and sequencing of online learning content are managed can also promote cognitive engagement. 

This includes providing sufficient scaffolding and balance so learners remain cognitively involved but are able to handle challenging, redundant, or repetitive content.  

Behavioral Engagement: Getting Students to Follow the Rules

Behavioral engagement has been described as a behavior where learners demonstrate working methods that follow explicit expectations. This includes adherence to a set of behaviors, rules, and norms, such as:

• Active engagement with discussion boards
• Participation in learning activities

For teachers, clarifying acceptable online behavior, as well as appropriate levels and frequency of engagement, allows students to respectfully question, challenge, and communicate with teaching staff and peers. 

When behavior expectations are clearly and explicitly stated, students are more likely to develop their professional identity and the conventions and norms essential in any professional community. Therefore, educators must clearly state the behavioral expectations of contributing to discussion forums. Online educators should model supportive and positive behavior and affirm positive engagement behaviors.  

Collaborative Engagement: Working Together Even When Apart

Despite the geographical distance, online students are likelier to be engaged when collaborating in discussions and debates and undertaking group assessment tasks. 

Collaborative engagement can include designing:

• Authentic assessment activities
• Work placements
• Internships
• Career festivals
• Networking events
• Other formal/informal professional activities

Collaborative and Cooperative Engagement

Collaborative engagement complements social engagement, and cooperative engagement is more accessible if the other engagement elements are addressed. For example, online multimedia or other technological interactive activities allow students to appreciate the backgrounds of the broader group or see scenarios through the eyes of others. 

Collaborative engagement is also related to students' connection to the university. This can be promoted through participating in university committees as:

• Student representatives
• University teams
• Societies

Collaborative engagement considers how students begin interacting with the profession/industry in which they gain qualifications. This can be achieved through student membership in relevant industry professional associations, attending conferences, or gaining industry mentors.  

Emotional Engagement: Tapping Into Students' Feelings  

Harnessing the emotions of learners has the potential to increase a particular type of engagement and connection to online learning. Emotional engagement includes the positive or negative attitudes and feelings students connect to their learning. This may be responses to:

• Content
• Peers
• Contexts
• Educators

Managing Emotions in Online Learning

From the outset, it is critical to support online learners in regulating their emotions throughout the learning process when engaging with new or complex concepts. Not managing emotional engagement across the student cohort could result in the teacher triggering adverse reactions to the learning content or teaching interventions. 

Strategies to Increase Student Emotional Engagement

Strategies that can increase student emotional engagement include polling activities and allowing students to self-direct and check their understanding of the subject matter. These examples can greatly assist student ownership and motivation. Likewise, discussion forums allow learners to post uncertainties and use the expertise of their peers to help provide more clarity.

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How to Increase Student Engagement in Online Learning

1. Use Multisensory Learning

Multisensory learning involves engaging more than one of a learner’s senses. Research suggests that learning through multiple channels helps students focus and retain information. For instance, an instructor may accomplish this in a math lesson by using blocks to incorporate:

• Touching
• Listening
• Seeing elements

Implementing multisensory learning in a virtual classroom might mean using objects most students have around their homes, such as:

• Beads 
• Legos

Incorporating captioning when offering audio/visual lessons can also help students engage in multiple ways, giving them a better opportunity to digest the information by seeing it presented visually. 

2. Make it Fun with Gamified Learning

Gamified lessons can increase student engagement in online learning by adding elements like point systems or badges as a fun way to interact with the information. This instruction method offers real-time feedback and shows students practical applications for the material. Friendly competition is also a strong motivator for better engagement and retention. This tactic applies to more than just young students. 

The Benefits of Gamified Learning in Corporate Training

Gamified learning can support corporate training by teaching employees to function as a team, improving onboarding experiences, and developing organizational leaders. Participants are encouraged to work together toward a common goal, which can also strengthen their professional relationships. 

3. Ensure Full Access for Learners with Disabilities

Students and employees with disabilities may need accommodations to help them effectively engage in their coursework and training sessions. The need for accessibility applies to those who are:

• Blind
• Deaf
• Hard of hearing
• Those with learning disabilities
• Others

Audio description is a crucial tool for Blind individuals, while captioning is necessary for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Offering captions can also help those with attention deficit disorder, those on the autism spectrum, or those learning or working in environments where English is their second language. 

Studies suggest that captions are a tool that can promote engagement among all learners, indicating that educators should proactively include captions rather than wait for individuals to request them. 

Regarding professional training, companies should remember that inadequate accessibility will violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA does not permit discrimination against employees with disabilities and specifically lists training as one of the employment practices that must be accessible.

4. Don’t Be a Stranger

Distance learning and remote employee training can quickly feel impersonal, but they don’t have to be. Technology allows participants and learners to develop meaningful connections with their instructors. Teachers can help forge relationships with students by:

• Providing feedback
• Checking in on them in a breakout room
• Ensuring everyone knows they can answer questions and discuss the course material

Learning a little about the students or employees as individuals also makes up for the lack of in-person interactions.

5. Build an Online Learning Community

Learners who connect to their peers are likelier to stay engaged in their studies. Making friends in an online course might be more challenging than in a traditional classroom, but it’s not impossible. Instructors can encourage communication between their students by scheduling group projects or activities in online breakout rooms. 

Leveraging Technology for Accessibility and Focus in Online Learning

Tools like Verbit can ensure that the students in those breakout rooms have real-time captions and transcripts that record their conversations. Offering word-for-word transcriptions of classes to students can help them focus on brainstorming and collaborative work rather than on taking notes. 

Building Online Learning Communities to Foster Company Culture

Online learning communities can also benefit corporations. Statistics show that 74% of professionals believe working from home will become standard following the pandemic. Getting employees to connect in remote training activities can help foster company culture, even without the physical office.

6. Use Simple Quizzes to Get Responses

During lectures and training, instructors may include occasional questions or polls for the participants to complete. These do not need to be stressful pop quizzes. Questions may even ask opinions or answers through a thumbs-up or thumbs-down emoji. Keeping the content of a mid-lecture quiz light and fun can help increase engagement in online learning and remote training sessions without causing stress. 

7. Break Learning into Bite-Sized Chunks

In a world where people are constantly multitasking and juggling numerous commitments, it's no surprise that many learners find committing to long-form online courses challenging. This is where bite-sized, spaced learning comes in. Bite-sized learning breaks down complex topics into small, easily digestible chunks. It is usually delivered in short, 5 to 10-minute sessions, making it perfect for most people who want to learn on the go. 

According to this research, most students agree that the bite-sized learning approach improved their learning. Spaced learning involves spaced-out intervals between study sessions. This allows learners to revisit lessons several times over days or weeks, which has been shown to lead to better long-term retention. Together, bite-sized and spaced learning make for a powerful combination that can help even the busiest person learn effectively. 

Here are three reasons why:

• Bite-sized Learning is Convenient: Bite-sized learning is perfect for busy people who want to learn on the go. The short learning sessions can easily be squeezed into a lunch break or commute. 

• Enhanced Retention When Combined with Spaced Intervals: Bite-sized learning alone can be helpful, but the effect is even more significant when combined with spaced intervals. Short, frequent sessions help learners remember the material better, while the spaced intervals allow them to consolidate their knowledge.
• Applicable to Any Topic. Both bite-sized and spaced learning are versatile methods that can be used to learn any material. These methods can improve student engagement during remote learning, primarily when delivered in various formats, such as text, videos, audio, voiceover slides, and panel discussions. 

8. Empower Students to Own the Assessment Process

Successful online learners are not necessarily tech experts but self-directed individuals who own their learning journey. Encouraging students to evaluate their progress and set goals enhances their metacognitive skills. Providing meaningful feedback and involving students in self-assessment empowers them to reflect on their achievements and plan their next steps, fostering a sense of responsibility for their learning. 

9. Regularly Give Feedback

Regular feedback is essential to keeping students engaged and motivated. It shows your students that you are engaged in their learning process and care about their progress. It also allows you to provide guidance and support as needed. 

The Importance of Feedback in Learning Assessments

According to this research, feedback is one of the most influential factors in learning. Assessments are an excellent opportunity to give feedback. They help measure learning effectiveness. Be sure to provide feedback on the assessment's content and the student’s performance. 

76% of instructors use formative assessment to measure student performance during remote learning. You can use your LMS to give feedback on:

• Examinations
• Quizzes
• Tests

In an online learning environment, students may receive feedback slower than face-to-face. Nevertheless, you should reply to students as quickly as possible. Delivering feedback through a video is an excellent idea as it gives a sense of personal connection with the student. 

There are multiple ways you can give feedback. Get creative and find ways that work best for you and your students. When giving feedback, ensure they are:

Specific

Feedback should be clear and concise. It should address what the student did well and what areas need improvement.

Objective

Feedback should be based on facts and observations. Avoid making subjective or personal judgments. 

Actionable

Feedback should contain suggestions that the student can use to improve their performance. 

10. Host Virtual Office Hours and Q&A Sessions

Hosting virtual office hours and Q&A sessions becomes instrumental in bridging the gap between virtual and face-to-face interactions. These synchronous opportunities allow students to connect with instructors in real time:

• Seeking clarification on the course material
• Discussing assignments
• Addressing concerns

Virtual Office Hours and Q&A Sessions

Virtual office hours provide a personalized touch to online education, fostering a sense of accessibility and support. Also, Q&A sessions can be structured in live sessions or spontaneous interactions, creating an environment where students feel comfortable engaging with the course material and seeking guidance whenever needed. 

11. Make Course Materials Mobile-Friendly

As the world has become more remote, many people use mobile devices as their primary digital connection. This extends to using mobile phones to access online learning materials. Educators must keep this in mind and create coursework that can be interactive on mobiles and tablets. Visual aids must present well on smaller screens, and slides must be optimized for phone screens. 

12. Provide Alternative Formats for Learning Materials

Recognizing the diversity in learning styles and preferences and offering alternative formats for learning materials is a proactive approach to engaging a broad spectrum of students. This may include:

• Providing transcripts for videos
• Offering downloadable PDFs or ebooks alongside online readings
• Presenting information through podcasts or audio formats

By catering to different learning modalities, you can create a more inclusive learning environment accommodating students' varied needs and preferences. 

13. Have Some Fun!

It can be easy for students to get bogged down in the seriousness of learning an online course. The quote “All work and no play makes Jack a dull student” still holds. 61% of young students agree that complex subjects became more enjoyable when their instructors introduced fun activities into class lessons. 

When you spice up the learning process with fun activities, students usually will find the experience enjoyable and memorable. There are several ways to create fun activities that will help maintain interest and excitement levels. 

One way to create a fun activity is to incorporate game-based learning. This can be done by using:

• Quiz games
• Trivia
• Online scavenger hunts

Studies show that 74% of instructors use a digital game-based approach to enhance learning. 

Another way to create a fun activity is to use discussion forums. This allows students to:

• Interact with each other and discuss the material covered in class.
• Get creative with the course material.
• Find ways to make it exciting and introduce them to your students.

Creating Engaging and Exciting Learning Experiences

This can make the learning process more enjoyable. The material covered in class must be thrilling and engaging. Students need to be more interested in the material to become bored and disengaged quickly. Using these tips, you can create fun activities to boost student engagement in online learning and make the learning process exciting.

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Can Teachers Measure Student Engagement in Online Learning?

Data Analytics: Uncovering the Numbers Behind Student Engagement

Most schools track a combination of metrics to measure presence and engagement, including: 

• Time on Task: Measure the time students actively engage in learning activities, such as time spent in the LMS and interacting with content.
• Participation Rates: Track the frequency and consistency of student involvement in online discussions and class activities. 
• Completion Rates: Track student progress and completion rates for assignments or projects. While this data offers some insight into how students access and use teaching resources and activities, it becomes much more effective when combined with data analytics tools.

These tools can:

• Analyze patterns of student behavior
• Identify trends
• Predict engagement levels

For example, a Personalized Learning System provides a centralized database of student engagement and activity data so that teachers can see which students are actively progressing and which ones need more assistance and attention.

Assessments: Using Tests to Track Student Engagement

Another way to evaluate student engagement is by using assessments. Teachers can use formative assessments to encourage students to reflect on their learning and set personal goals. For example, a teacher can ask them to rate their confidence levels through a chat feature or another digital platform. 

During small group discussions, students can also identify areas of strength and weakness in a particular subject in virtual breakout rooms. On the other hand, summative assessments can help assess a student’s mastery of a subject, which can look like:

• In-depth online discussions
• Peer-reviewed assignments
• Video essays

Using both types of feedback loops helps educators monitor students’ learning progress. 

Surveys & Questionnaires: Getting the Inside Scoop on Student Engagement

One of the most straightforward ways to gauge student engagement is to ask them directly. You can use surveys or questionnaires to gather feedback from students and families about their perceptions and experiences of your teaching. For example, you can ask them to rate their interest, motivation, and satisfaction on a number scale or provide open-ended prompts to understand where to improve instruction or allocate the necessary support for better student wellness and welfare. 

Surveys should be administered regularly throughout the school year as a good practice for teachers to continue meeting students' needs. 

Observation: Watching for Signs of Student Engagement

A more informal way to measure student engagement is to observe students in various environments. Teachers can:

• Watch how students interact with peers
• Participate in group discussions
• Engage during live instruction

Notice subtle behavioral cues like:

• Eye tracking
• Reactions
• Note-taking

Interpreting Student Engagement Signs

These signs give teachers real-time feedback on students’ involvement during lessons, allowing teachers to adjust as needed. However, while some positive signs are promising, avoiding relying solely on potentially subjective interpretations is essential. Using other assessment methods with observation ensures a more complete evaluation.

Save Time While Grading Schoolwork with EssayGrader's Grading Software for Teachers

Feedback in the classroom is often represented as a cycle. This is because students can use feedback to improve on future assignments. For example, a student writes an essay and receives feedback on it. They can use the notes and comments to improve their writing before moving on to their next writing assignment. 

Instead of starting from scratch with no information on what they did well and what needs improvement, this next assignment will be more informed, thanks to the feedback received on the previous essay.

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