Interactions between learners and teachers in the course
The teacher and students will communicate in a variety of ways to make the online course on plant growth more interesting and exciting. pupils will be able to collaborate, form relationships, and learn in ways that best relate to their needs because of these interactions. Based on good practices in online learning, I have selected various methods to motivate meaningful participation.
Ways Learners Will Interact
- LMS Forums (Google Classroom/Canvas): A place for students where they can discuss, share ideas, and receive instructor updates.
- Padlet: This collaborative platform allows learners to share their images and thoughts regarding the development of their plants as well as leave comments on those of their peers.
- Flipgrid: On this platform, students share observations, reply to peers, and film brief video updates on the growth of their plants.
- Video discussions (Google Meet/Zoom) are used for peer discussions, final project presentations, and synchronous question-and-answer sessions.
- Students are motivated to interact with a wider learning community and share updates by using hashtags (#MyPlantJourney) on social media platforms or within their learning management system (LMS) in the classroom.
Reasons for These Forms of Interactions
- Promoting Collaborative Learning: Peer interactions in online collaborative learning enhance understanding, claims BC Campus (2020). Students can use Padlet and LMS forums to have informative conversations regarding plant growth.
- Creating a Sense of Community: Building relationships in an online course boosts engagement and motivation, claims JHU (2020). Flipgrid and video chats make learning livelier by enabling personalized interactions.
- Encouraging Diverse Learning Styles: While hands-on learners use Flipgrid and Padlet, visual learners benefit from movies and visuals. Verbal learners participate in conversations (LMS forums, video chats), while hands-on learners interact through plant
- Enhancing Engagement Beyond the Classroom: Hashtags encourage students to document learning experiences in real-world settings and interact beyond the LMS.
Guidelines and Grading for Interactions
- Clear Expectations
- Students must participate in discussions at least twice a week (one post and one reply).
- Flipgrid videos should be short (under two minutes) and include a response to a classmate.
- Padlet posts should have a reflection and a comment on a peer’s work.
- Respectful and Helpful Feedback
- Students will use a simple feedback model: “I noticed…, I wonder…, I suggest…”.
- Emphasis on respectful, supportive engagement.
- Instructor Presence & Support:
- Weekly video check-ins and LMS announcements to clarify expectations and provide feedback.
- Individualized support for students needing extra guidance.
- Assessment Criteria:
- Participation will be graded based on engagement, depth of responses, and peer interactions.
- Self-reflection assignments to evaluate how interactions contributed to learning.
By integrating these interaction methods, the course ensures active participation and a meaningful learning experience.
Your comprehensive approach to fostering meaningful interactions in your online course on plant growth is commendable. Integrating diverse platforms like LMS forums, Padlet, Flipgrid, and video discussions not only caters to various learning styles but also promotes a sense of community among students. I appreciate how you’ve aligned these tools with best practices in online learning, emphasizing collaborative learning and engagement beyond the traditional classroom.
I’m curious about your experience with these platforms. Have you encountered any challenges in encouraging students to actively participate across these different mediums? Additionally, how do you plan to assess the effectiveness of each tool in enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes? Your insights on these aspects would be valuable for educators looking to implement similar strategies.
I appreciate your thoughtful feedback, Allysia. Since I’m still learning, I haven’t yet attempted to use these techniques in a real-world situation. I’m exploring which platform could be most effective for capturing children’s interest, and I’m eager to put these strategies to the test as I get more experience. Your recommendations, and questions are appreciated; they are inspiring me to learn more about successful online teaching strategies. While I play about with these tools, I’ll be sure to share my progress and observations.
Your course design effectively balances structures and flexibility, which I believe is essential to ensure that students engage meaningfully with content and their peers. The variety of interaction methods – from Padlet to Flipgrid – caters to different learning styles, making the learning experience much more inclusive as well. Given the emphasis on student engagement, how do you plan to support learners who may be hesitant to participate in video-based interactions like Flipgrid? This is something that I have struggled with in the past, so I would be curious to know your thoughts.
Hello, Mariah Mazur
Thank you for your comment. I have not taught online before, so I’m still learning how to make things work best for everyone. For students who feel nervous about using video on Flipgrid,
I appreciate your comment. I will walk them through the process of making a quick video and sharing it. Until they feel more at ease, I might also allow them to express their ideas in writing or through an audio recording. I’m eager to learn deeper as I go, and your advice is helpful.
Hey Gagan,
You planned structured learning environment results from established guidelines together with respectful feedback as well as assessment criteria which facilitate organized student involvement. Self-reflection tasks along with tags help students stay connected beyond scheduled classes which creates a vibrant interactive way to learn online.
Hey Gagandeep, your blog is really insightful! I love how you’ve outlined different ways for students to interact in an online course. The combination of platforms like Google Classroom, Padlet, and Flipgrid is perfect for keeping students engaged. It’s also great how you consider different learning styles—visual learners, hands-on learners, and verbal learners all get a chance to shine with your approach. The emphasis on collaboration and creating a sense of community really makes the course feel interactive and personal. I think your grading system with clear expectations and respectful feedback will definitely help keep students motivated and engaged throughout the course. Great job!