In this day and age, creating an online course by simply uploading lectures and slides doesn’t cut it. 

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To foster interactive remote learning, educators must find creative and successful ways of increasing student engagement. This is key to the success of students and professors alike. 

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Fortunately, with a plethora of resources and advanced technologies at your fingertips, creating an interactive online course has never been easier. Here are five ideas for how to make online learning more engaging.

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1. Create an Open Communication System 

One of the keys to promoting engaged remote learning is to make space for student feedback and questions. 

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This not only encourages student-teacher interaction, but it also gives educators the chance to streamline courses and clarify those subjects that students find confusing.

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One way to effectively and effortlessly implement this is to give students a mid-term survey. In this format, students are afforded the chance to anonymously rate the course, note what’s working well and/or highlight problem areas, and offer any suggestions for improvement.

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2. Encourage Socialization

One issue that can arise in online learning is student isolation. 

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When students aren’t physically in one another’s presence, some may feel isolated, which can end up having detrimental effects on their capacity to learn as well as their overall well-being.

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To combat this common problem, imbed social functions into your interactive online course. For example:

• Commenting
• Sharing
• Group discussions
• A teacher chat function

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3. Diversify Your Delivery 

The more static course content is, the more students lose interest. One of the simplest ways to foster interactive online learning is to use multimedia materials. 

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In addition to recorded lectures, try incorporating any of the following:

• Digital flash cards
• Interactive diagrams
• Quizzes
• Three-dimensional models
• Games
• Simulations

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4. Be Conscious of Your Presence 

There’s a plethora of research to show that students struggle to learn when they’re under stress. Causes of stress may include:

• Tight deadlines
• Upcoming exams
• Interpersonal conflicts 
• Current events

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According to studies, the hormones and neurotransmitters released during and after a stressful event are major blocks to human learning and memory processing. 

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Especially in a time such as this, preparing a warm atmosphere in which students can be as physically and emotionally regulated as possible is of utmost importance. Here are some tips:

• Maintain eye contact in videos.
• Speak in a relaxed and friendly tone.
• Create an aesthetically pleasing and warmly lit background.
• Share a personal item that represents an aspect of your life, such as a family photo.
• Begin a session with a mindfulness exercise or by sharing a positive quote or song.

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5. Consistently Check In With Students 

The best way to gauge how your students are processing material is to check in with them often. This practice also encourages participation and engagement. 

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One way to go about this is to pause at appropriate intervals during a lecture and ask students to give a thumbs-up if they understand the material or a thumbs-down if they’re struggling with it. This is also a great time to open up the class for discussion or questions. 

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