Importance of Student Engagement in Distance Learning

Building enthusiastic, involved, and committed learners is the key to student success in distance learning.

FREMONT, CA: Student engagement boosts student satisfaction, improves student motivation to learn, mitigates the sense of isolation, and enhances student performance in online courses. Engagement is not a choice when students are learning from a distance. Developing involved, enthusiastic, and committed learners is key to student success in distance learning. There are some core aspects of good teaching that can exist whether students are learning from home or school. Read on to know more.

One of the common methods that engagement is gauged is through evidence of student talk-time. This could be through think-pair-shares or turn-and-talks. When educators focus solely on how to get students to talk, they risk missing the true goal - to develop enthusiastic learners. Talking is an indicator of student engagement when it is about the learning content. Engaging in discussion with students, asking them about the lesson, what interests them, and asking what questions they have are a must. Whenever students engage in discussion, the educators should consider what students might say that would indicate engagement. These talking points assist the teacher plan for the depth of conversation rather than for mere conversation.

Community is intangible and is based on actions and attitudes. This is why it is so essential for leaders to model actions publicly and talk about attitudes explicitly. The teachers, support staff, APs, and instructional coaches must all be models of the community they need their students to emulate. Educators don’t have to advocate, but every student requires to know they have an advocate at school. Students are diverse in their personalities, backgrounds, identities, perspectives, and interests. Schools with a strong community seek to uplift all students, developing supportive spaces for everyone. Students who are least engaged are those who do not have a support network at the education center.

Choice can offer students a sense of agency and control. It helps them reflect on their strengths and consider the best method to involve themselves in their learning. After the lesson, consider framing the choices to provide students as review, practice, or extend.

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