Helping learners engage with the materials

There are a number of things you can do to help learners engage fully with the materials. For example:

• Ensure the activity is clearly relevant to the learning objectives and topic in hand.
• Explain the purpose of the activity in general; in relation to individual learning plans or objectives.
• Indicate the time needed.
• Suggest how ‘big’ an answer is appropriate.
• Avoid “busy work” – exercises with no clear focus or objective.
• Avoid vague activities – for example, asking students to ‘Jot down a few ideas about…’ without giving some guidance and structure.
• Consider alternatives to writing or keying.
• Ensure variety.
• Use graphics where appropriate.
• Be consistent throughout – for example, use the same words in instructions.
• Don’t have too much text on a page – leave some white space.
• Give satisfying feedback, for example:
• the correct answers if there are any;
• sample answers;
• other people’s responses;
• advice as to how the students can assess their own responses;
• advice about how to get feedback from other people;
• sympathy about difficulties they may have had;
• reassurance about, and guidance on, possible errors they may have made;
• comments on issues raised by the activities.