Discussions

This strategy is designed to enhance students’ awareness of multiple intersecting identities that they have. It can be used for fostering inclusion and promote diversity in a classroom. It encourages students to accept others and work with others with respect.

Online discussion forums provide students an opportunity to engage with one another and with their instructors on topics relevant to the course. They can be effective in creating community and can reassure students that their contributions to the class are of value. Additionally, they provide a space in which students can be experts, sharing their…

This strategy highlights the benefits of using a Complete/Incomplete, single-criteria rubric for online discussions to increase student success and reduce instructor grading.

Building community through food poetry is a strategy that can be applied across curriculum and for online and blended teaching.

Structured anchors and frameworks for discussion and reflection must be implemented to increase levels of discourse, interaction, and relationship.

Description When teaching remotely during synchronous online learning sessions, finding ways to engage the students as they enter the virtual meeting room is important to capture the students’ attention. Providing a hook also known as an anticipatory set is a one way to set the focus for the lesson to prompt student reflection and discussion.…

How can we make discussion boards a place for learning and interaction rather than busy work, and what is our role as instructors?

Discussions in asynchronous online courses provide an opportunity for students to share their thoughts and learn from classmates in a fashion emulating in-class discussions. This allows students to contribute their thoughts and take time to respond to classmates’ comments. In a large enrollment online course, dividing the class into groups provides the opportunity for students…

Description Traditional face-to-face education featuring evanescent content delivery, hands-on activities, and social learning has been the mainstay of education (Vygotsky, 1962). Blended and online options have become more prevalent as reliable internet connectivity and technology have increased, and, indeed, online education has strived to emulate face-to face qualities. However, engagement, motivation, and retention of students…

Description The digital powerups strategy provides an innovative way for instructors to engage students in higher-order online discussion by humanizing and personalizing the discussion. This strategy should be used to allow students to engage in online discussions in relevant and authentic ways. Online discussions can “allow students to participate actively and interact with students and…