Teaching Methodologies for Improved Student Engagement in Online or Distance Education Courses

Research demonstrates the importance of learner engagement and social presence achievement of student learning outcomes and increased student satisfaction. However, little guidance is available to educators on how to create effective online and distance education courses that are engaging, interactive, student-centered, and effective. A literature review was completed to determine which online and/or distance education teaching methodologies are best for improving student engagement, and therefore improving student outcomes. Thirteen articles published between January 2014 and December 2019 were identified from a search of two databases. Ten of these articles were further analyzed according to the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework. A variety of online and distance education teaching strategies have been shown to be effective in engaging students, including discussion forums, online virtual simulation, and gaming. This literature review will provide online and distance educators with an overview of the effectiveness of a variety of teaching modalities in student engagement and improved learning outcomes