Beyond the Discussion Board: Engaging Students in Asynchronous Online Activities

This paper explores the effective online teaching practices and activities used for an asynchronous online learning environment. During the 15-week semester, students had various opportunities to learn rigorous content while utilizing various technological tools. The course, called "How People Learn," offered diverse and exciting readings to students interested in education as a social science. We felt that the course design helped students learn effectively in the asynchronous online environment. The same course was taught online by two different instructors, yet the course outcomes were very similar. Our paper outlines the course's design and purposeful creation of active learning activities in the asynchronous online setting. At the end of the article, we recommend a series of technological tools applicable for use in similar asynchronous online courses.