Encouraging Quality

Academic Online

Discussions

Presented by :Cari Kenner and Victoria WilliamsAcademic Learning Center

Typical On-line Discussions

• Instructor posts question.

• Students post 3-5 responses.

Why don’t traditional online discussions always work?

• Lack of community

• Lack of motivation

• Unfamiliarity

Source: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~webteach/articles/discussion.html

Why keep trying? What is the value of discussion in online classes?

• Builds community.• Adds to understanding of course content and its application to real world situations.• Helps students maintain a connection to the course.

Why keep trying? What is the value of online discussion in traditional classes?

Allows all students a voice.

• Encourages thoughtful response to course content and other students’ ideas.

Encouraging Participation

• Instructor Participation.• Too Involved.• Under Involved.

• Give credit.• Restrict access. • Encourage collaboration. • Be realistic.

Source: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~webteach/articles/discussion.html

Alternatives to Traditional Online Discussion Formats

I. IcebreakersII. “Real Time” Lab DiscussionsIII. Content-Centered Discussion AlternativesIV. BloggingV. Facebook: CampusBuddy

Types of Discussions

• Synchronous –Adobe Connect

• Virtual Office Hours

• In-class discussions

• Asynchronous

• Threaded discussions• Large group

• Small group

• Blogs

Real Time “Lab” Discussions

Why threaded discussion in “real time”?•Allows time for thoughtful response (student comment).•In a chat situation, students feel pressured to fill the space and do not necessarily stay on task.

Specific task: Read short article, formulate questions, respond.

Icebreaking Techniques

• Why are we together?

• Portrait

• Classmate Quiz

Icebreaking Techniques

Why are we together?• Have students complete a profile and assign

them to a group of 4 or 5.• The students have to figure out what they have

in common.• Post their common reason to the whole group.

Icebreaking Techniques

Portrait• Students create a self-portrait to share with instructor and

classmates.

• A digital graphic of some kind—drawing that is scanned into the computer, picture from the web, or other. (No photographs allowed.)

• Include an explanation.

Icebreaking Techniques

Classmate Quiz

• During the first week have students post to an introduction threaded discussion.

• In the second week, give a quiz to see what they have learned about fellow classmates.

• All icebreakers are from: Conrad, Rita-Marie and J. Ana Donaldson. Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004.

Content-Centered Alternatives

• Case Study

• IRA

• I Didn’t Know That

Case Study • Assign a different case study for 3-person groups.

• Provide specific questions to answer.

• Three-person groups post responses a week before discussion.

• Entire classes looks at all case studies and comments on all groups.

• Group members must post responses to those who comment on their case study.

IRA Insights, Resource Sharing, and Applications

Insights: Create one-sentence bullet points from the readings (3 total).

Resource: Beyond the readings find another source that explains, validates, or exemplifies course reading.

Application: Provide an example from your current course, experience,

assignment, etc.

I Didn’t Know That • Devote an entire discussion thread to “I

Didn’t Know That” postings.

• Each week, post something you’ve learned and will use, from the lecture, textbook, class discussions, personal experience, etc.

All content-centered activities are from: Conrad, Rita-Marie and J. Ana Donaldson. Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004.

Blogging

http://voraciousvocab.blogspot.com/

Facebook: CampusBuddy• See who is in classes.

• Get grade distributions.

• “Discuss” the class.

• Rate professors.

• Upload course materials.

If you use Facebook….• Create “Teacher” Profile

• Ask students to limit your access to profile.

• Create Groups

• Publish Notes

• Status Updates

Source: http://www.edumorphology.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/fb_classroom1.pdf

Idea Sharing