Description Online discussions are most effective when students engage in higher order thinking, taking time to reflect and compose original posts. Instructors play a key role in purposefully designing discussion forums that move “student discourse out of the margins of thinking to deeper levels of thought” (Williams, Jaramillo, Peski, 2015, p. 46). The post-first discourse …
Continue reading “Post First Discourse”
Related Tags:
Critical Thinking,
Discussions,
Interaction
Description Asynchronous discussions are often utilized in online courses and while they can be effective toward creating and sustaining a learning community, they are not effective if not optimally designed. It can sometimes be difficult for students to converse in a way in which knowledge is co-constructed, and a way in which students can constructively …
Continue reading “Implement Tuning Protocol to Improve Online Discussion Peer Replies and Assignment Quality”
Related Tags:
Assessment,
Course Protocol,
Discussions,
Interaction,
Large Classes
Description Peer review is a strategy steeped in the social interaction proposed as essential to cognitive development by scholars such as Bruner and Vygotsky (Price, O’Donovan, & Rust, 2007; Hughes, Ventura, & Dando, 2004). Peer review involves small groups or pairs of students sharing work with one another, creating an environment where students can develop …
Continue reading “Foster Peer Review Using Online Discussion”
Related Tags:
Cognitive Theory,
Discussions,
Expertise,
Interaction,
Peer Review,
Scaffolding,
Social Learning
Description One of the major challenges in higher education is for students to find relevance and value in the content they are learning in the classroom (Ambrose, 2010). This extends to the online discussion, where students sometimes do not see the value in actively participating the discussion and do the bare minimum to complete the …
Continue reading “Encourage Authentic Learning in Online Discussions through Photovoice”
Related Tags:
Anthropology,
Authentic Learning,
Discussions,
Interaction,
Photovoice
Description It can be difficult for students to connect with each other and with instructors in web-based courses. A number of strategies, design-decisions, and activities can be used to alleviate this issue (Vonderwell, 2003). One commonly used activity is the introduction post – the digital correlate of the in-class introduction. The instructor creates a discussion …
Continue reading “Increase Participation and Engagement in Student Introduction Posts through Narrative”
Related Tags:
Discussions,
Engagement,
Ice Breaker,
Interaction,
Introduction,
Narrative
Description Nonlinguistic strategies require students to create a representation of new information that does not rely on language. Marzano, Pickering, and Pollock (2001) define non-linguistic representations as the use of visual, kinesthetic, and whole body systems to acquire and store knowledge. Mental images and physical sensation combined with linguistic modes allow students to better reflect. …
Continue reading “Provide Non-Linguisitic Representations to Foster Reflection”
Related Tags:
Assessment,
Concept,
Critical Thinking,
Discussions,
Image,
Interaction,
Non-Linguistic,
Reflection,
Visual
Description Researchers agree that students retain more when active, student-centered learning techniques are employed and that fun and engaging learning experiences foster higher information retention (Bonwell and Eison 1991). When teaching large classes online, this can be difficult, but faculty still want to create an environment that is personal and interactive (Carbone 1998). Faculty want …
Continue reading “Use Pop Culture to Energize Online Activities”
Related Tags:
Discussions,
Engagement,
Interaction,
Popular Culture
Description Reading assignments are often the basis for understanding much of the information and material content delivered in class. It can often be challenging – and overwhelming for students – to encourage reading and assess comprehension in the absence of traditional face-to-face class discussions. Utilizing student created discussion prompts as a means for peer review …
Continue reading “Use Student Created Discussion Prompts for Peer Review”
Related Tags:
Assessment,
Discussions,
Feedback,
Peer Review
Description The goal of a GIST statement is to write a summary in a given amount of words (i.e 20 words, 15 words, 10 words). GIST is an acronym that stands for: Generating Interactions between Schemata and Texts (Cunningham, 1982; Herrell, 2000). The instructor can determine the amount of words when writing the GIST statement. …
Continue reading “Using GIST Statements for Summary of Learning Content”
Related Tags:
Concept,
Critical Thinking,
Discussions,
Engagement,
Formative,
Interaction,
Participation,
Reflection,
Visual
Description Project-based learning is a method of inquiry-based learning where students are required to develop an end product using their knowledge of a specific topic. In most cases, the product is directly applicable or usable in the real world. Larmer and Mergendoller (2010) cite seven requisites that a good project-based learning experience must have: 1) …
Continue reading “Support Project-Based Learning Through Flipboard”
Related Tags:
Discussions,
Flipboard,
Interaction,
Mobile,
Project-Based Learning