How Interactive Course Elements Make Online Learning Better

When was the last time you were genuinely excited about a course??

Chances are, it had something to do with the interactivity. Maybe it was a content discussion that sparked debate or a video that brought the concepts to life – interactivity is necessary to keep students interested.

So, if you're tired of watching your students zone out, click away or leave courses unattended to, you're in the right place. But before we unpack the how and what of interactive course elements, why should it matter?

Why Interactivity Matters in Online Education

Interaction keeps a classroom alive.?

By interaction, we mean group discussions and hands-on learning activities. However, these can be difficult to replicate in an online learning environment. That's where interactive elements come in.

When you give your students ways to actively engage with the course material (and each other), your class becomes more than just some passive exercise.

Adding interactive elements to your online course can improve students' teamwork abilities. Besides, people can be very competitive. So you don’t have to worry about students showing up for these activities.

Passive learning might help you remember what to answer for a test, but it's not a great fit if your aim is to make students understand the concepts of a topic and gain long-term results.?

When you add interactive elements to your learning, whether through simulating real-life scenarios or partaking in virtual labs, students find it fun to dive into source material without needing additional motivation.?

Then they become more than spectators, which makes all the difference.

How to Enhance Course Engagement with Interactive Strategies

Here are few ways to input interactivity in your course content:

1. Quizzes

I know what you're thinking – quizzes? Really?

But trust me, when done right, they're a magnet. We're talking about quizzes that make your students sit up and take notice.?

If it’s interactive, challenging, and fun, then it should work. Whether it's a quick-fire round or a brain-teaser, the goal is to keep your students engaged.

Refer to the graphic below for the quizzes with the best results:

2. Discussions

Remember how you used to talk with your classmates in school? Well, it turns out the same structure works wonders online.?

By creating spaces for your students to interact and share ideas, you're building a sense of community and collaboration. This could be through forum threads or live chat sessions.

3. Multimedia

Videos, simulations, and interactive presentations have their place in all of this. They bring your lessons to life. Research has shown that students find it 83% easier to recall information they learnt using visual cues.?

When you appeal to different senses of your students, you're helping them truly understand and absorb the material.

4. Feedback

What’s interaction without feedback? Give your students a chance to assess their own progress. Their input will go a long way to keep them invested in their learning.?

Whether it's through self-paced quizzes or peer reviews of assignments, encouraging active participation in the feedback process is a game-changer.

Now, the ‘what’ (the actual list you’re here for)…

What Makes Each of These Interactivity Work

Let’s see what makes learning by doing really stick.?

Interactivity is not just about throwing in a few videos or quizzes for the sake of it. Getting the interactive bits in the right places to genuinely grab students' attention is what you should aim for.

1. Videos

Ever seen a video that asks you questions along the way??

Instead of just passively watching, students get to answer questions, and make choices. This active participation turns watching into doing, helping students understand and remember better because they’re actively involved.

2. Group Projects

About the last time you learned something new from a conversation, how did it go? You probably can still remember every detail leading up to it.

That’s the power of discussions and live chats.?

A group project is about swapping ideas, asking questions, and seeing things from different angles. For better results, keep the conversations focused and full of curious questions that make everyone think and learn together.

3. Simulations and Virtual Labs

Simulations let you try things out in a way that feels real but without the risk of getting into trouble.?

Imagine mixing chemicals without worrying about explosions, or practicing server hardening without the risk.?

It’s learning by doing, where making mistakes is just part of the journey to getting it right.

Do More, Say Less?

So there you have it – a crash course on spicing up your courses with interactive elements.?

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