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Abstract
This paper will cover various effective online learning strategies for those in online
learning. Online learning has grown to be a popular form of receiving an educational experience,
both in the rise of the technology world and through the COVID-19 Pandemic. This paper will
examine how alternative learning can reach students of various learning needs and how through
the collaboration of students and professors, there can be great success in courses they share
together.
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Technology and Online Learning
Online learning has grown to be one of the most accessible ways for those seeking an
education but unable to attend an on-campus setting. Many graduated in 2020 from a computer
in the wake of the COVID pandemic and many realized its success. Online learning in academia
provides a more condensed and informational platform where students and even those seeking
professional development in the work setting to achieve goals from their home. It provides
access to a virtual classroom with professional instruction and learning and collaboration from
online discussions. Online learning has become a necessity in society today as many do not like
to be tied to a campus, desire travel and receive education, inability to attend due to health, or
have decided later in life to begin their academic careers. Online professors have a great skill set
to teach a variety of learners with whom they have not met in person. Because of this, it pushes
them to become a master at their craft. They must become well versed in online teaching, which
goes beyond just simply submitting grades, but creating content for their students through
videos, PowerPoints, and even virtual meetings. It takes a strong technological skilled professor
to bring a virtual classroom to life for students to grasp the content and become a successful
student.
Principles of Online Learning
Because of the popularity of online learning, both professors and students must play a role in the
functioning of learning. Three principles of online learning can be seen in creating opportunities
for active learning (professors), management of time (students), and communication
(collaborative effort). Active learning provides an opportunity for students to engage in
meaningful conversations, make connections, and grasp concepts about the material being
studied. When it comes to time management, because there is no in-person attendance required,
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it is often easy to become stagnant and allow the workload to pile up. Effective time
management is even more important in the online setting because it is just that one single
student, but it is important to stay on task and focus, especially in the comfort of a student's
home. Lastly, communication is a two-way street. Due to the lack of in-person meetings, the
luxury of talking professor to student makes asking for clarification or confronting situations
more difficult. Both professors and students must practice clear communication via email or
office hours to allow for feedback or clarification (Parlette, n.d.). To consider an effective
delivery of a lesson in an online format, professors could present the topic in several ways (i.e.,
visual or written) for students who may learn in diverse ways. This presentation of content gives
the learner an opportunity to break down what is being taught in a way that they can best
understand (James et al., 2022). It is not the sole responsibility of the professor in online
learning, it is the responsibility of the student to actively engage in the provided content beyond
the due date. They must review all appropriate attachments, engage in conversation, and put in
the proper time needed for their assignments. Without each position playing their role, it makes
for an unproductive and ineffective learning environment (Dwijuliani et al., 2021).
Online Instrucional Strategy 1
In order to create a positve functioning online classroom, it is necessary to to create a
platform for dialog amung the students and professors. One way in which this can accomplished
is through discussion posts which invites a multitude of ideas, questions, and growth. Discussion
posts are essentially verbal group discussions that take place within a physical space. It is
inevitable that dialog happens between students and professors in the classroom and many great
ideas or minset shifts happen in discussions, so allowing for the virtual community to have the
same experience is important in the online setting (Wong, 2021). This strategy improves the
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learning experience because it can change a students potential “fixed” minset on a topic or
allows for a student who may be confused and looking for clarity. Dialog changes the outcome
of learning by opening mental doors. How can a student grow if there is only his or her way of
thinking? This is why it is essential that professors jump in on the topic versus just presenting
and stepping back, especially in the virtual setting (Baker, 2008).
Online Instructional Strategy 2
Another way to have an effective online learning experience is allowing students to show
all they have learned with a fun closing activety of choice based on all the learned material
throuhgout the semester. When students are given the freedom to express their knowledge of an
assignment, it give the professor the opportunity to see how their lectures had an effect on their
students. There will always be guidelines on how to proceed, but overall the student can create a
project on what excited or stood out to them the most during their time in class. Every student
grasps information differently and on the same token, expresses their understanding differently
(Howie, 2023). With this fun closing activiety of choice, it takes the pressures off of the students
in some manner which can take away brain block or trying to wrap up their semster in a way
they may not fully understand how. With the creative expression, the professor can expect to see
material presented in a way that they may not have seen, which creates a cycle of continuous
learning, something a physical setting may not produce as the presetation guidelines may be
different due to in person learning. This outlet can play an essential role in the online learning
platform by keeping students engaged in their studies while building momentum throughout the
semester in order to complete their chosen closing activity successfully (Richmond, 2023).
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In conclusion, online learning is an incredible resource for anyone who chooses to take
the deep dive in higher education. It allows access to many fields of study without having to
move or even leave a home. Its flexibility makes it easier on the lives of those who many be in
the fulltime workforce or even stay at home parents. Education stopped being bound to a in
person setting but has expanded its accessibility, especially in the rise of the technology world. It
provides the same access to materials, knowledge, and educational success. As Proverbs 18:15
says, “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and an ear of the wise speaks knowledge”. This
verse in Proverbs shows that encourages a person to pursue wisdom and seek to be a teachable
person.
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References
Baker, T. N. (2008). Understanding and implementing classroom discussions of
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discussions (Order No. 3329548). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
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Dwijuliani, R., Rijanto, T., Munoto, Nurlaela, L., Basuki, I., & Maspiyah. (2021).
Increasing student achievement motivation during online learning activities. Journal of Physics:
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HOWIE, E. (2023, Jul 08). Students show creative industry is in good hands: End of year
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James, B. R., Leinbach, A. A., MacDonald, A. M. (2022). Effective online teaching:
Voices of experience (pp. 35-48).: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Liberty.edu/library.
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Wong, M. (2021). Beyond asking ‘should’ and ‘why’ questions: Contextualised questioning
techniques for moral discussions in moral education classes. : Journal of Moral Education.,
50:3, 368-383, DOI: 10.1080/03057240.2020.1713066
https://www.unf.edu/cirt/id-resource-9-Principles-for-Online-Teaching.html
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