Thinking and Researching Online

      Studies show that to be successful in an online only learning environment, students should be well-motivated, autonomous learners, who are able to self-regulate their learning experiences (Artino & Stephens, 2009). There will be different motivations for different age groups of online learners. Graduate students are more likely to think critically and less likely to procrastinate than undergraduate online learners. A key tip here is to make sure that students are able to benefit from online assignments. Online classes should be designed to make connections between what is presented with students prior knowledge, to maintain collaboration and communication between students, promote critical thinking skills and self reflection.

      Instructors should create assignments that promote self-regulation and critical thinking in their students. Providing reflective prompts are a good way to make students think about what they have learned and how they can apply their new knowledge. A strategy to use for online discussions would be to scaffold student responses. The instructor may model an appropriate response, request clarification, expound upon student ideas, and correct misunderstandings.

http://elearnmag.acm.org/featured.cfm?aid=1722023