Student Motivation in Online Classrooms
Student Motivation in Online Classrooms
Keeping motivation up for students is really important for success in the classroom especially online classrooms with little interaction throughout the class. My favorite methods for keeping motivation are ones that encourage communication with recommended but optional Zoom calls before big tests or assignments to make sure students feel supported and like they understand the content. I would also have a clear calendar of when assignments are due so there is a clear understanding of that. I personally would make my due dates and expectations clear for each assignment but I also would supply lots of chances for extra credit because being understanding of students is important. Providing feedback on assignments so that students know what they are doing well and what can be improved on is also a great way to keep them motivated. The last method for motivation in an online classroom environment is encouraging students to communicate with each other.
These many ideas I based off of personal experience and what would've helped me stay motivated through my online college experience. Communication is a key to my personal motivation, specifically communication of due dates is so important, and where a lot of the time my motivation has faltered. So I would apply all of these with frequent announcements and open encouragement for feedback. All of this would be displayed openly with easy access to all resources.
Hi Clare,
ReplyDeleteI like the emphasis you put on communication in an online environment. Communication is extremely important in any learning environment but becomes even more critical in an online setting, especially an asynchronous course. I love that you mention scheduling zoom meetings before a big test or assignments to support students because I had not even thought of that. One thing that I have found from my personal experiences is also the way in which instructors communicate with their students makes a difference. For example, I have had many instructors that respond promptly to emails, are friendly, respectful, and supportive. But I have also had instructors that just tell me to check the syllabus or assignment instructions and just generally seem annoyed to be bothered by a student. Would you agree that building relationships by being friendly and respectful to your students helps with communication and therefore motivation?