Key Strategies for Engaging Students in Virtual Learning Environments

Citation

Harrington, C. & DeBruler, K. (2021). Key strategies for engaging students in virtual learning environments. Michigan Virtual University. https://michiganvirtual.org/research/publications/key-strategies-for-engaging-students-in-virtual-learning-environments/

Abstract

Since mid-March 2020, many traditional schools and districts throughout the United States were forced to adopt remote teaching and learning practices as a result of extended school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Such practices often tried to imitate effective virtual or online learning; however, the results of these efforts fell short in many ways. As traditional face-to-face teachers worked tirelessly to implement effective virtual learning practices, they struggled because of a lack of formal professional learning experiences focused on pedagogy in these virtual environments. This “pandemic teaching,” as it has often been labeled, has been marked deeply by the failure to engage students learning remotely and the difficulty of rapidly developing the skills necessary to teach effectively in this format.

Authors

• DeBruler, Kristen
• Harrington, Chris

Reference Type

Report

Keywords

• K-12 online learning