ABSTRACT

Chapter 1 serves as an introductory chapter, providing an overview of the entire book, starting with a rationale for why online learning should be reframed to engage students in online courses beyond the use of the traditional discussion board. This-provides context for online learner engagement through a wide range of active and experiential learning activities and describes ideas for leveraging new and emerging learning technologies within and outside of learning management systems. Background information on a myriad of active and experiential learning strategies that can be included as part of online courses are discussed. Key topics explored in Chapter 1 include active learning, experiential learning, asynchronous and synchronous learning, and flexible learning environments. This chapter concludes with an introduction to the subsequent chapters and highlights the book’s core features, including planning templates, discipline-specific examples, and technology and online resources.