A key challenge I (well, actually any educator) encounter when teaching in a classroom or online, is how to create an environment in which the learners will meaningfully interact with the content and conversation. Engagement happens on many levels - learners to learners, learner with content, learner with instructor, learner with self (i.e. "sitting in a corner and thinking"), etc. Relationship-based engagement: "It is people who engage - or don’t. The foundation of any type of engagement is trust, which comes from developing a good relationship with the other party. We believe in trusted sources of information; we will listen and respond to options if we believe they are put forward in good faith; and we will only collaborate if we have confidence that the other party will deliver on their promises."
Posted by gsiemens at June 28, 2006 8:25 AM | TrackBack