An Online Engagement Framework for Higher Education
Top Cited Papers
Open Access
- 1 March 2018
- journal article
- research article
- Published by The Online Learning Consortium in Online Learning
- Vol. 22 (1), 183-204
- https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v22i1.1175
Abstract
Student engagement is understood to be an important benchmark and indicator of the quality of the student experience for higher education; yet the term engagement continues to be elusive to define and it is interpreted in different ways in the literature. This paper firstly presents a short review of the literature regarding online engagement in the higher education environment, moving beyond discipline-specific engagement. It then presents a conceptual framework which builds upon recurring themes within the literature, including students’ beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours. The framework was developed by adopting a constant comparison method to analyse the literature, and to search for and identify current and emerging themes. The framework identifies indicators for five key elements of online engagement, and the authors propose that the framework provides a guide for researchers and academics when exploring online engagement from a conceptual, practical and research basis. Finally, the paper provides recommendations for practice, outlining how the framework might be used to reflect critically upon the effectiveness of online courses and their ability to engage students.Keywords
This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- Using the framework method for the analysis of qualitative data in multi-disciplinary health researchBMC Medical Research Methodology, 2013
- Agency as a fourth aspect of students’ engagement during learning activitiesContemporary Educational Psychology, 2011
- Engaging online learners: The impact of Web-based learning technology on college student engagementComputers & Education, 2010
- New Benchmarks in Higher Education: Student Engagement in Online LearningJournal of Education for Business, 2008
- Students’ engagement in first‐year universityAssessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 2008
- Pedagogical lurking: Student engagement in non-posting discussion behaviorComputers in Human Behavior, 2008
- An array of qualitative data analysis tools: A call for data analysis triangulation.School Psychology Quarterly, 2007
- Qualitative Data Analysis for Health Services Research: Developing Taxonomy, Themes, and TheoryHealth Services Research, 2007
- A Measure of College Student Course EngagementThe Journal of Educational Research, 2005
- Guiding Principles for Fostering Productive Disciplinary Engagement: Explaining an Emergent Argument in a Community of Learners ClassroomCognition and Instruction, 2002