Keynote Address: The ABCs of Learner Engagement: Strategies for University Blended Learning Leaders

Abstract

Learner engagement is essential for academic success and student satisfaction. University leaders and professors have years of experience with learner engagement with traditional onsite learning experiences. Promoting and supporting learner engagement in blended and online learning environments can seem elusive at times. In this presentation I will share key principles and examples to enable university leaders and instructors to better support blended and online learner engagement. You will be introduced to big ideas from the Academic Communities of Engagement framework with strategies for supporting affective, behavioral, and cognitive engagement in the emerging digital learning environments of higher education.

Speaker: Charles R. Graham, Ph.D., Brigham Young University

Charles R. Graham is a Professor of Instructional Psychology and Technology at Brigham Young University with interest in technology-mediated teaching and learning. Charles studies the design and evaluation of online and blended learning environments. His work emphasizes digital transformation at the pedagogical level as well as the institutional adoption level. Charles has authored 90+ articles in over two-dozen journals and 30+ chapters in edited books. Much of his research is conducted with graduate students who he loves to work with and mentor. Charles has co-edited four books on blended learning research (Handbook of Blended Learning: Global Perspectives, Local Designs, Blended Learning: Research Perspectives, Volume 2 and Volume 3, and Blended Learning for Inclusive and Quality Higher Education in Asia) and a book on research methods for young researchers learning to do research in online and blended learning contexts (Conducting Research in Online and Blended Learning Environments: New Pedagogical Frontiers). He has also co-authored a free online book series for k-12 teachers and administrators focusing on four key blended teaching competencies (K-12 Blended Teaching Series) and a book for practitioners interested in designing blended learning environments (Essentials for Blended Learning: A Standards-based Guide). Charles has presented keynotes, webinars, and workshops to practitioners around the world. In 2015 Charles became a Fellow of the Online Learning Consortium “For outstanding achievement in advancing theory, research and effective practice in online and blended learning.” He is also a Fellow with the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute for his work to develop a K-12 Blended Teaching Readiness instrument. Additional details about his scholarly work can be found online at: https://bit.ly/crgvita