MOSH: An Online Tool for Real-Time Monitoring of Student Engagement

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Online Learning Pedagogy
• Virtual Classroom Management

Background:

• The shift to online learning due to COVID-19 presented challenges in monitoring student engagement.
• Instructors faced difficulties in observing student behaviors and adjusting teaching pace in virtual settings.
• Effective student-instructor feedback loops are crucial for optimal learning outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a tool for real-time student feedback in online classes.
• To enhance the student-instructor feedback loop by increasing acknowledgment and response to student input.
• To address the challenges of monitoring student engagement in large virtual classrooms.

Main Methods:

• Development of a widget named MOSH (Move On/Stay Here).
• Students use MOSH to indicate their desire to "move on" or "stay here" on discussion points.
• Real-time data collection on student comprehension and engagement levels.

Main Results:

• The MOSH widget facilitates immediate student feedback on lesson pacing.
• Increased instructor awareness of student understanding and engagement.
• Potential for more responsive and adaptive online teaching strategies.

Conclusions:

• The MOSH widget offers a practical solution for gauging student engagement in virtual environments.
• Enhancing the student-instructor feedback loop can lead to improved learning experiences.
• Real-time feedback mechanisms are vital for effective online pedagogy.