Online Learning:
Engaging the Learner
Introductions
• Mary Beth Kyer – Founder, Euphoria Workforce Solutions– www.euphoriaworkforce.com– www.learnerhill.com
• Kymberleigh Richards– Director Studies, Learner Hill– www.learnerhill.com
Agenda
• Elements of Online Learning• Barriers to Learning Online and how to
remove them • How to Enhance and Engage the
Learner• A Demonstration of the Learner Hill
Platform and online classroom
Who’s Studying English Online?
• Global Language Industry is approximately $40 billion, 50% of which is English as a Second Language
• Online Language Education is growing 22% per year
• Expected to reach $1.69 billion in 2014.
• E-Learning is being used to allow learning to take place at the learner’s convenience - any place, anytime.
Sources: ‘’World Bank & IFC; Ambient Insight 2010
Elements of Online Learning
Online learning includes:• Live online classes• Self-study• Blended Learning• Language labs
Trends in Online Learning
• self-paced materials• social media• blogs• discussion boards• videos• live chat• video conferencing
Enhance and Engage
• Interactive courseware that allows “learning by doing”, arouses interest and generates motivation.
“If you tell me, I will listen
If you show me, I will see
If you let me experience, I will learn.”
Lao-Tse, 5th century BC
Classroom vs. Online Classroom Online Learning
+ - + -Easy access to Instructor
Inflexible schedule which requires attendance
Easy access to Instructor by email
Myths to online learning
Immediate response to question
Must reply on notes to review material
Immediate response to questions using the in-class chat board
Peer support Difficult to study while working / taking care of a family
Peer support through the use of a discussion board
Convenient
Flexible
Can study while studying/take care of family
Barriers
Myth # 1:
• no one-on-one time• no personalized attention• no individual attention• difficult to ask questions
Removing the Barriers
Truth:• The Chat board can be used to ask
questions during the class• Instructors are taught to engage the
learners• Learners can get the instructions
attention by raising their hand in an online classroom
Barriers
Myth # 2
• Classes are not interactive• The instruction is more teacher driven
as opposed to student centered
Removing the Barriers
Truth:
• Instructor can call on the learn to answer a question as the names of all participants are displayed in the sidebar.
• Instructors can assign multiple microphones to participants in order to engage in a class discussion
Enhance and Engage •Call on all learners to
participate
•Have learners role-play and practice dialogues
•Have learners answer comprehension questions based on videos or listening clips
•Use whiteboard tools to highlight concepts and correct sentence structure
Tell Me
Show Me
Let Me
Enhance and Engage •Use chat boards to check for
correct spelling and explain words in context
•Give learners control of the whiteboard writing tools for error correction
•Use pointers to help learners follow content while in a virtual classroom
•Incorporate tests and activities throughout the materials
Tell Me
Show Me
Let Me
Platform
Links
www.learnerhill.com
www.euphoriaworkforce.com
www.englishtown.com
www.adobe.com/products/connect
www.webex.com
www.adobe.com/product/captivate
www.techsmith.com/camtasia.asp