Best Practices in Engaging Online Learners Through Active and Experiential Learning Strategies

Best Practices in Engaging Online Learners Through Active and Experiential Learning Strategies, Second Edition, is a practical guide for all instructors, instructional designers, and online learning administrators designing, developing, teaching, and leading online, hybrid and blended learning courses and programs, who seek to provide supportive, engaging, and interactive learner experiences. This book explores the integration of active and experiential learning approaches and activities including simulations, gamification, social media integration, project-based learning, scenario-based learning, virtual tours, and online micro-credentialing as they relate to the development of authentic skill-building, communication, problem-solving, and critical-thinking in learners. New and emerging learning technologies of virtual and augmented reality along with artificial intelligence are included in this updated edition with examples of how instructors can actively use them in online courses to engage learners in experiential experiences. Readers will find guidelines for the development of participatory and peer-learning, competency-based learning, field-based experiences, clinical experiences, and service-learning opportunities in the online classroom. In addition, the authors provide effective learning strategies, discipline-specific examples, templates, and additional resources that align learner engagement with assessment practices and course outcomes.

"As educators power forward in a new era of virtual learning that challenges our teaching prowess and effectiveness, it is increasingly vital to the future of online education that we equip ourselves as learning leaders. Best Practices in Engaging Online Learners Through Active and Experiential Learning Strategies, 2nd Edition, is rich with brilliant, essential, and applicable teaching techniques to enrich our students’ learning outcomes in a new era of virtual education."—Lilian Ajayi-Ore, Chief Learning Officer and University Faculty at New York University School of Professional Studies, USA."This book is a treasure trove of creative, technology-rich teaching ideas that would be beneficial to any educator—in-person or online, new or veteran. The authors seamlessly weave together research, theory, and practice to showcase what is possible when teaching with current and emerging technologies in online settings. Each chapter is chock-full of activity ideas, links to digital tools and resources, and subject-specific examples. I highly recommend this new edition to any educator looking to design innovative, student-centered active learning experiences.—Torrey Trust, Associate Professor of Learning Technology in the Department of Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies in the College of Education at University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA"Best Practices in Engaging Online Learners Through Active and Experiential Learning Strategies, 2nd Edition offers a unique and fresh perspective on how instructors can create authentic and dynamic learning experiences for all online learners. This book is a must-read for new and experienced online teachers for its practical suggestions on fostering high-quality interactions in online environments, regardless of the discipline or cohort of students. Filled with strategies for using real-world contexts to create meaningful and engaging activities for students, this book is a rare treat for those instructors seeking to take their teaching to a new level of practice and community!"—Molly Mott, Associate Provost and Dean of Academic Support Services and Instructional Technologies at the State University of New York at Canton, USA"Best Practices in Engaging Online Learners Through Active and Experiential Learning Strategies, 2nd Edition is an important and timely publication that will guide even the most analog-minded teachers to use it, refer to it, and be transformed by it. The sheer variety of this expansive book will leave no instructor unsupported in enhancing their online learning environments with innovative approaches to teaching and learning. I strongly recommend this inspiring and timely resource to young and seasoned educators."—Nina Araújo, Learning Experience Designer at Northeastern University, USA

Stephanie Smith Budhai is Associate Clinical Professor in the School of Education, in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum, at Drexel University, USA, and has spent over a decade designing, developing, teaching, and assessing undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral online courses and programs. Stephanie holds a Ph.D. in Learning Technologies and is a previous International Society for Technology Education (ISTE) Awardee for Excellence in Teacher Education. In addition to being certified in Instructional Technology, Information Technology, and Technology Education, she is a Quality Matters Certified Online Course Reviewer, a VoiceThread Certified Educator, and a Google Certified Educator Level 1. She is on the southeast regional board of the Pennsylvania Association for Educational Communications and Technology and her Twitter handle is @DrBudhai.Ke’Anna Brown Skipwith is the Assistant Provost for Advances in Learning at Wentworth Institute of Technology, USA. She partners with academic departments and organizational divisions to enhance the curricula and integrate innovative pedagogical approaches. Ke'Anna has over a decade of experience developing and designing online and hybrid programs. She has been instrumental in implementing institutional learning practices and academic strategies to elevate the student learning experience. Ke'Anna has been an adjunct professor, committee co-chair, curriculum planning team member for various professional development programs and workshops, student organization advisor, and a host of an online teaching and learning podcast.