Sessions

Anything, Anytime and Anywhere: Connecting Virtually with a Personal Touch

This session focuses on methods for developing students’ motivation within an online writing course. It is believed that students could be better connected virtually as a class through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous modes of learning. Additionally, students can become stakeholders within virtual spaces through awareness-raising, self-reflection, and student empowerment. Findings from a study that investigated students’ perceptions of virtual connectedness and motivation for learning will be highlighted. The findings reveal a number of difficulties that educators must overcome within online learning. Pedagogical implications will be highlighted based upon the findings. Additionally, insights on various processes and activities for enhancing motivation within virtual spaces will be demonstrated. In particular, emphasis is placed on how virtual spaces could be utilized for enhancing students’ engagement in the learning process.