Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction (Online Teaching and Learning Series (OTL)) (Paperback)

by Rita-Marie Conrad (Author), J. Ana Donaldson (Author)
Key Phrases: use online tools, engaged learning environment, peer partnership, Engaging the Online Learner, University of Northern Iowa, Activity Author's Note (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Conrad and Donaldson have definitely written a book that an inspire teachers to be creative and resourceful!"  (Authors Journal Compilation, Winter 2007)

Product Description
Engaging the Online Learners includes an innovative framework—the Phases of Engagement—that helps instructors become more involved as knowledge generators and cofacilitators of a course. The book also provides specific ideas for tested activities (collected from experienced online instructors across the nation) that can go a long way to improving online learning. Engaging the Online Learner offers the tools and information needed to:

· Convert classroom activities to an online environment and use online activities in a classroom-based course

· Assess the learning that occurs as a result of collaborative activities

· Phase-in activities that promote engagement among online learners

· Help online learners use online tools

· Build peer interaction through peer partnerships and team activities

· Create authentic activities

· Implement games and simulations

 

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (January 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787966673
• ISBN-13: 978-0787966676
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,222 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a useful guide for distance learning, February 8, 2006

By	Robin G. Sowton "rsowton" (Plano, TX) - See all my reviews

This book is ideal for the professor or instructor who is providing instruction through distance learning. For online instruction to be successful, students cannot just sit and absorb content passively. The online professor/instructor must encourage an engaged learning environment, which is described by the authors as an environment based on constructivist principles and problems-based learning.

One early challenge is to get the students to feel comfortable participating in discussions. The students' level of engagement can be measured partly by looking at the frequency and the quality of the students' interactions. Another challenge is to get students to feel comfortable with the online tools. The book provides at least a dozen 'ice breaker' activities to help students feel confident with discussions and tools. It also recommends that nongraded assignments be used during this initial orientation period.

Different categories of activities are described, including team and peer, reflective, authentic, and learner-led activities. Over a dozen examples of activities are provided for each category. (The authors define reflective activities as those that require the student to share a synthesis of the learning experience and they define authentic activities as those which stimulate an actual situation.) The section on learner-led activities explains how to help learners become successful in preparing and delivering instructional activities, especially with the tasks of defining objectives, defining the type of activity, and planning. Games and simulations are also addressed (but briefly).

Overall, it's a useful book for getting started when you suddenly find yourself having to teach a distance learning course. My only gripe is that I would've liked to have seen a larger section on assessments.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful guide :), August 15, 2005

By	Maritza Gudiño "Maritza Gudiño" (Valencia, Edo Carabobo Venezuela) - See all my reviews

This book is appropriate to me. I am relatively new to the online learning enviroment and at last I found individual and collaborative activities focused on constructivism and problem-base learning. This activities are a wonderful guide to move learners gradually from traditional rol until they become more self directed. Many books on the topic of online instruction offer innovation and they only present lecture-based approach.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good But Not Great, May 29, 2007

By	Joseph G. Dudash "jgdudash" (Beavercreek, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found the book to be very easy and fast to read with lots of concrete examples of activities for the online learner. Though I understand the importance of engaging the online learner, as an instructor in the allied health field I don't feel I have the time or interest in developing games and the types of alternative learning activities suggested in the book. In allied health/science courses we need to cover an extensive amount of material, perhaps if I were teaching a course in another discipline I would feel differently.

I feel that another book "Discussion Based Online Teaching To Enhance Student Learning" by Tisha Bender is a much better book for my situation and offered more helpful ideas (but less examples) to improve my online course.