Using share-out grids in the online classroom: From icebreakers to amplifiers

Area of Science:

• Online Education
• Active Learning Strategies
• Higher Education Pedagogy

Background:

• Online teaching is increasingly adopted by higher education institutions.
• Active learning in virtual environments poses unique challenges for student engagement, especially for introverted or geographically dispersed students.
• Building a strong class community, fostering student science identity, and maintaining structure are critical in online learning, particularly during crises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an online teaching strategy that addresses challenges in virtual active learning.
• To introduce the
• student share-out grid
• as a method to enhance online classroom dynamics.
• To demonstrate how this strategy can support diverse student populations and promote community and structure.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a novel online teaching technique termed the
• student share-out grid
• in higher education settings.
• Focus on strategies to overcome barriers faced by quiet, shy, or location-restricted students in online participation.
• Emphasis on fostering student science identity and class cohesion within the virtual space.

Main Results:

• The
• student share-out grid
• method proved effective across a variety of student types.
• The strategy successfully promoted a sense of community among online learners.
• Enhanced structure and engagement were observed in the online classroom environment.

Conclusions:

• The
• student share-out grid
• is a valuable tool for effective online teaching in higher education.
• This strategy offers a practical solution for engaging all students in active learning online.
• Implementing such methods is crucial for building community and structure in virtual academic settings.