Peer Review

Self-Motivation and the Online Learner

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: May 6, 2024 by Sociology

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This resource is a support blog article for online learners that gives tips to stay motivated and engaged in online courses. It is one article of many in the category of online learning through Purdue University Global website. Several activities that a learner should complete to stay engaged with online courses are included. Mindset and positive self-talk, time management tools including a TED-Ed linked video on time management techniques, log-in and interaction with classmates and instructor, and goal development/celebration are topics covered.

Type of Material:

Reference Material. This is specific to Purdue Global. Much of the material can be found at most universities in a dedicated student academic services department.

Recommended Uses:

This material is most valuable as reference material. Activities provided in the material can be pulled out and assigned as homework. For example students can be assigned to review the material and complete the Ted-Ed video/quiz that is embedded in the blog article.

Technical Requirements:

High speed internet

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Relative to Sociology, it would be hard to define goals for the use of this webpage.

This would be pertinent for student services dedicated to virtual learning in general and specifically for the program offered by Purdue Global.

The webpage offers some tips on study habits and seeking resources in a virtual environment.

There are also sections on each department which offers virtual courses and degrees at that university.

Target Student Population:

College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Professional

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Basic computer skills

Ability to navigate the internet

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: Excellent material for first time online learners. Offers a summary of research to support the purpose of motivation tools offered to stay engaged in online learning. Activities offered allow for hands on tools to build skills.
Concerns:: Dated: since it was written in 2018, AI has become has become a growing problem for online classes, but isn't mentioned.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: Offers many tools that can be pulled and used for hands on learning or assigned as individual practice to build skills in online learning engagement.
Concerns:: -Limitation of this application to students at other universities. The choice of linked sources seems dated, there are probably much better material done in the last 5 years.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

- Clearly states its purpose

- Easy to navigate

- Includes embedded videos that illustrate topics covered including educational tips and introductions to the departments listed

-In good working order and updated. great visual presentation, graphics fit the concepts, video animation is engaging

Concerns:

Accessibility tool does not pick up images or links that are built into the page for additional resource knowledge. The Ted-Ed video embedded in the blog article overlaps some of the paragraph content so two paragraphs are unreadable. There are broken links and the alt is missing.

Other Issues and Comments:: This type of resource is typically supplied specific for each university and would likely be included in most syllabi as a matter of course.
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