Reading Notes: COFA Video - Engaging and motivating students

You tube Video: COFA Video - Engaging and motivating students

COFA Online NSW (2011) Engaging and motivating students [Online] available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvJuzE-g7OM (accessed 04.08.25)

Ideas for actively engaging students for online learning

Online learning can be lonely and not very engaging on its own

What do students enjoy and engage well with? Not what ways am I used to teaching.

The importance of teacher presence – critical.

Students need to sense your presence

Teachers need to appear interested in what the students are doing.

Pay attention to what students are saying, if this is strongly shown in the first 2 weeks then the rest takes care of itself. Established the benchmark.

Don’t dominate, but guide from the sidelines.

Creating a collaborative learning environment

Form a community

Shy/international students/ quieter voices in person, may give space to speak up online.

Learn from each other

Students know each other

Sharing online offers different views and unexpected perspectives.

The role of the tutor in effectively facilitating student interaction

Tutors can directly contact underactive students and ask directly if there is anything which can be done to support their learning or help them to interact and have greater involvement.

Post general comments to message boards to comment on how things were going to encourage interaction.

Strategies for motivating students when they are not participating well with their peers

The way that the students perceive the comments that they make and the interaction that they are involved with will motivate for further discussion. It interests other people. Fuels further action. Helps with inclusion

How to encourage a sustained level of participation in collaborative activities

Students need to see the value in their participation.

Value tied to assessment?

Value tied to participation marks?

Ground rules to establish momentum. What is the criteria of what is expected by the tutor?

Pass rate of engagement – pass, merit, distinction

No meeting but relationships have formed.