Enhancing Interaction in
Online Courses
Florence Martin
Instructional Systems Technology
UNC Charlotte
About Me
Florence Martin, Ph.D.Associate Professor & Program DirectorInstructional Systems Technology
Research
Online Learning Environments
• Elearning
• Synchronous Online Learning
• Mobile Learning
• Learning Analytics
Teaching
• EIST 6150 – Design, Development and Evaluation of online learning systems
• EIST 6130 – Instructional Multimedia Development
• EIST 6110 – Instructional Design
UNCC IST Program
• M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Technology (36 hours)
• Graduate Certificate in Instructional Systems Technology (18
hours)
http://edld.uncc.edu/programs/instructional-systems-technology-program
Online Learning and Teaching
Concentration
This Online Learning and Teaching
concentration is for those interested
in the development and management
of online learning systems.
EIST 6100 Foundations of Instructional Systems Technology
EIST 6110 Instructional Design
EIST 6120 Current Trends in Instructional System Technology
EIST 6130 Instructional Multimedia Development
EIST 6150 Design, Development, and Evaluation of Online Learning Systems
EIST 6101 Learning Principles in Instructional Systems Technology
http://edld.uncc.edu/sites/edld.uncc.edu/files/media/OLT_ISTFlyer.pdf
Research
• Interaction
– Is crucial to student satisfaction and engagement in
online courses (Mandernach, 2005).
– enhances the effectiveness of any distance education
course (Kearsley,1995)
– More is not always better (Grandzol & Grandzol,
2010)
– Is essential for active participation (Verneil & Berge,
2000)
Define Interaction
• Daniel and Marquis (1988) defined interaction as activity
in which a student is in two-way contact with one or more
persons.
• Later, Gilbert and Moore (1998) defined interactivity in
computer-mediated instruction as the reciprocal
exchange between the technology and the learner.
Define Interaction
Wagner (2005) defines instructional interaction as “an event that takes place between a learner and learner’s environment and its purpose is to respond to the learner in a way intended to change his or her behavior toward an educational goal” (p. 9).
Types of Interaction
• Moore (1993) identified three types of
interaction inherent in effective online
courses:
– learner-to-learner interaction
– learner-to-instructor interaction
– learner-to-content interaction
Type of Interaction Description
Learner-learner interaction
is an extremely valuable resource for learning, and Moore (1993) emphasized the importance of students’ interaction with their peers.
Learner-instructor interaction
is highly desirable as the instructor seeks to stimulate, or at least maintain, student interest in what is to be taught and to motivate the student to learn.
Learner-content interaction
is the process of intellectually interacting with the content, which changes the understanding, perspectives of a learner’s mind.
Learner-Learner
• Set up a “Student Lounge” where students can discuss any topic
and “meet” informally to share common interests.
• Begin your course with an ice-breaker introduction discussion that
asks students to introduce themselves and respond to peers post.
Do yours first.
• Assign forum moderators (students who get extra credit or
participation points to monitor the threads and write weekly
summary) to the discussion. This saves you work, rewards extra
effort, and encourages students to review.
• Use peer-review for projects. Motivate students to display their work
with their classmates.
• If you use synchronous sessions, use breakout rooms to enhance
student to student interactionLearner - Learner
Learner – Instructor
Learner - Content
Student Lounge
Learner - Learner
Learner – Instructor
Learner - Content
Icebreaker Introductionhttp://voicethread.com/
Learner - Learner
Learner – Instructor
Learner - Content
Sign up to be a forum moderator
Learner - Learner
Learner – Instructor
Learner - Content
Peer Reviewing Projects
Learner - Learner
Learner – Instructor
Learner - Content
Learner-Instructor
• In Synchronous sessions, use the various features, chat, whiteboard, polls, emoticons to encourage interaction with the instructor
• Interact with students regularly and by name via discussions to promote engagement and attention.
• Send regular announcement emails to students.
• Provide more than one way for students to contact you. Create a contact the instructor forum for students to post general questions about the course.
• Provide online office hours and phone appointments; make sure you respond promptly to inquiries.
• Provide student an opportunity to reflect with you via journal or surveys
• Provide thorough feedback via text, audio, video, visuals
Learner - Learner
Learner – Instructor
Learner - Content
Synchronous Meeting –
Orientation, Q&A
Learner - Learner
Learner – Instructor
Learner - Content
Forums
Learner - Learner
Learner – Instructor
Learner - Content
Skype for Office Hours
Learner - Learner
Learner – Instructor
Learner - Content
Feedback – Journals/Surveys
Learner - Learner
Learner – Instructor
Learner - Content
Learner-Content
• Present content in more than one format (Text, Video,
Audio).
• Use games and simulations to keep your students’
attention.
• Provide links to online resources which allow students to
explore the topic in more depth.
• Use audio and video clips to guest lecturers
• Use live, synchronous web conferencing for class
events, guest talks and student presentations
Learner - Learner
Learner – Instructor
Learner - Content
WPI (2007)
Learner-Content
• Guide students into generating their own content.
• Require participation in discussion forums that require
students to reflect and build on the content.
• Use self-tests to allow students to check their
understanding of content.
• Keep the format of your lessons consistent.
Learner - Learner
Learner – Instructor
Learner - Content
WPI (2007)
Consistent Categories
Instructor generated and Expert
presentations
Online Learning and Teaching
Concentration
This Online Learning and Teaching
concentration is for those interested
in the development and management
of online learning systems.
EIST 6100 Foundations of Instructional Systems Technology
EIST 6110 Instructional Design
EIST 6120 Current Trends in Instructional System Technology
EIST 6130 Instructional Multimedia Development
EIST 6150 Design, Development, and Evaluation of Online Learning Systems
EIST 6101 Learning Principles in Instructional Systems Technology
http://edld.uncc.edu/sites/edld.uncc.edu/files/media/OLT_ISTFlyer.pdf
Reference
• Daniel, J., & Marquis, C. (1988). Interaction and independence: Getting the mix right. In D. Sewart, D. Keegan, & B. Holmberg (Eds.), Distance education: Internationalperspectives (pp. 339–359). London: Routledge.
• Gilbert, L., & Moore, D. R. (1998). Building interactivity into web courses: Tools for social and instructional interaction. Educational Technology, 38(3), 29–35.
• Kearsley, G. (1995, May). The nature and value of interaction in distance learning. Paper prepared for the Third Distance Education Research Symposium, University Park: Pennsylvania State University.
• Grandzol, C. J., & Grandzol, J. R. (2010). Interaction in online courses: More is not always better. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 13(2), 1-18.
• Mandernach, B. J. (2005). A faculty evaluation model for online instructors: Mentoring and evaluation in the online classroom. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 8(3), 1–10.
• Moore, M. J. (1993). Three types of interaction. In K. Harry, M. John, & D. Keegan (Eds.), Distance education theory (pp. 19–24). New York: Routledge.
• Verneil, M., & Berge, Z. (2000). Going online: Guidelines for faculty in higher education. Educational Technology Review, 6(3), 13–18.
• Wagner, E. D. (1994). In support of a functional definition of interaction. American Journal of Distance Education, 8(2), 6–29.
• WPI (2007). Incorporating Interaction Into Your Distance Learning Course https://www.wpi.edu/Academics/ATC/Collaboratory/Teaching/interaction.html
UNCC IST Program
• M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Technology (36 hours)
• Graduate Certificate in Instructional Systems Technology (18
hours)
http://edld.uncc.edu/programs/instructional-systems-technology-program
Online Learning and Teaching
Concentration
This Online Learning and Teaching
concentration is for those interested
in the development and management
of online learning systems.
EIST 6100 Foundations of Instructional Systems Technology
EIST 6110 Instructional Design
EIST 6120 Current Trends in Instructional System Technology
EIST 6130 Instructional Multimedia Development
EIST 6150 Design, Development, and Evaluation of Online Learning Systems
EIST 6101 Learning Principles in Instructional Systems Technology
http://edld.uncc.edu/sites/edld.uncc.edu/files/media/OLT_ISTFlyer.pdf
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