Nurturing the Roots of Online Student Engagement with Inclusive Teaching Practices

Concurrent Session 10

Brief Abstract

Explore the potential of inclusive teaching practices to foster student engagement and success in online courses. This interactive session will provide a toolkit of strategies, resources, and learning activities that faculty can use to create safe, supportive, and engaging learning communities.

Presenters

Lead Presenter: Kate Grovergrys, Madison Area Technical College

Kate Grovergrys is a skilled educator with over 25 years of teaching experience. She holds a B.A. in Spanish from Valparaiso University in Indiana, and a M.A. in Spanish Literature & Linguistics from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. She earned an E-learning and Online Teaching Graduate Certificate at UW-Stout and is certified as a SEED facilitator with the The National SEED Project. She specializes in designing and implementing high quality instruction with a focus on equity, inclusion, student engagement, and success. Since 2020, she has been serving as a faculty consultant in the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Madison Area Technical College. In this role, she designs and facilitates a wide variety of professional development experiences for faculty in the areas of online teaching, hybrid instruction, inclusive teaching practices, and other topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Extended Abstract

Student success in online courses is directly linked to student engagement. While instructors often focus on designing interactive activities and integrating collaborative technology tools, what if student engagement is also about something deeper? What if it’s also about the way that students feel in our classes? What if it’s also about how they relate to our course content and instructional setting? What if it’s also about the ways in which our students see themselves reflected in our course content and materials?

 

Engaging students in online courses goes beyond providing highly interactive learning activities and integrating dynamic technology tools. The roots of online student engagement are centered around the notion that all students require a safe and supportive learning environment where they feel connected, represented, and challenged. This session will explore the deeper aspects of student engagement and how inclusive teaching practices can foster student success through meaningful online learning experiences for all students.

 

In this interactive and engaging session, participants will delve into practical strategies and evidence-based approaches to enhance student engagement through inclusivity. The session will begin by defining inclusive teaching and emphasizing its significance in fostering student engagement. Research has shown that inclusive teaching practices positively impact student engagement, leading to improved learning outcomes (Smith & Jones, 2020).

 

To provide a comprehensive understanding, attendees will explore a range of inclusive teaching strategies that encourage active participation and foster meaningful engagement among students. These strategies have been found to promote a sense of belonging, create equitable learning opportunities, and enhance student motivation and participation (Brown et al., 2018).

 

Throughout the session, participants will have the opportunity to engage in facilitated discussions, live polling, and hands-on activities that offer firsthand experiences of the impact of inclusive teaching practices. These interactive elements will highlight the effectiveness of inclusive teaching in creating a supportive and engaging learning environment. By actively engaging with these strategies, participants will gain a deeper understanding of their potential to foster student success and engagement in online courses.

 

Furthermore, the session will create a collaborative atmosphere where participants can share their own experiences, exchange ideas, and learn from one another. This sharing of diverse perspectives and best practices will enrich the learning experience and provide participants with a broader toolkit of inclusive teaching strategies to apply in their online classrooms.

 

Recognizing the challenges that instructors may face when implementing inclusive teaching practices, the session will also address common obstacles and engage in discussions to identify potential solutions. By openly discussing these challenges and working together to find practical solutions, participants will leave the session feeling empowered and equipped to navigate the path towards fostering inclusive teaching practices in their online courses.

 

By the end of this session, attendees will have gained an understanding of how inclusive teaching practices can nurture the roots of student engagement and foster student success.  They will also have acquired a toolkit of practice strategies and other resources that will help them to create safe, supportive, and engaging learning communities in their online courses.

 

References:

Brown, L., Smith, J., & Johnson, M. (2018). Fostering inclusion and engagement in higher education: Pedagogical approaches and practical strategies. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 11(2), 111-125.

 

Smith, A., & Jones, B. (2020). Inclusive teaching and student engagement: Exploring the linkages. Journal of Higher Education, 45(4), 567-582.