Canadian post-secondary institutions have increasingly shifted to online and hybrid education, offering flexibility and accessibility for both instructors and students but also presenting challenges in fostering engagement, motivation, and active participation. One of the key factors contributing to these challenges is the varying levels of digital literacy among diverse students, which can impede their ability to effectively navigate and fully participate in online learning environments.
In this interactive session, participants will explore strategies to improve students' digital literacy skills to enhance online engagement. Online tools, such as discussion forums within Learning Management Systems (LMS), facilitate interaction between students and instructors; however, they often fall short due to digital literacy gaps: students may struggle with basic tasks like posting or submitting content, while some instructors may be unaware that forums exist as a communication/assessment tool within the LMS. Using discussion forums as a case study, participants will examine barriers to meaningful interaction and practical ways to overcome them. Without addressing digital literacy, engagement tools become ineffective, as students and instructors may lack the necessary skills to use them fully.
This session is designed for instructors, instructional designers, and anyone involved in creating effective online learning environments. Participants will explore real-world examples of how improved digital literacy has positively impacted students’ collaborative learning and active participation through discussion forums. Participants will also reflect on their own teaching contexts, exchange ideas, and discuss practical solutions to common engagement challenges. This session will provide participants with practical strategies and insights to strengthen digital literacy and enhance engagement in online learning.
