How to Effectively Facilitate Your Online Course to Drive Student Engagement | Del Wakley

We interviewed Milwaukee Area Technical College Instructor, Del Wakley, about driving student engagement within an online course.

How would you recommend a new faculty member get started?

“For engaged learning, I recommend reviewing the Connect Matrix that is located in your McGraw Hill Connect® Instructor's Resource area. Not only does the matrix align each digital asset with chapter learning objectives, but it also aligns the asset with Bloom’s Taxonomy. This helps you identify those items–case analysis, click and drag, matching, video case, application-based activity, etc.–that engage students at Bloom’s Apply-level or higher.”

What are some of the standards you need to keep in mind?

“I'd suggest that the main standard to drive student engagement is to make it meaningful. Research has shown that if students do not consider a learning activity worthy of their time and effort, they may not engage or even disengage entirely. So, the activity must "Connect" to the learning content, and its successful completion must contribute to the students' overall course success.”

What specific Connect tools would you recommend using?

“I recommend using an Application-Based Activity (ABA) for each chapter.”

What is your favorite Connect tool to boost engagement in your students?

“My favorite tool in Connect Marketing to drive student engagement is the Application-Based Activity (ABA). These are the Mini-Sims and Role-Plays. Each allows students to apply what they have learned from their chapter readings. Based on student feedback, they enjoy the interactive nature of the ABAs, and they have helped them increased their learning.”