Description 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 …
Continue reading “Use Self-Evaluation and Instructor Feedback in Group Discussions to Enhance Participation in Large-Enrollment Courses”
Related Tags:
Discussions,
Facilitation,
Interaction,
Large Classes,
Peer-Reviewed Entry,
Rubric
Description Today’s technological environment requires practical skills in online competencies; one of these skills is webinar facilitation. Facilitation is a useful skill to support group in meeting an objective, making a decision, or collaborating more effectively. Facilitation is also the teaching strategy that can be selected for assignments in order to: (1) model for students …
Continue reading “Preparing Students to Facilitate a Webinar”
Related Tags:
Active Learning,
Adult Learning,
Bloom's Taxonomy,
Content,
Engagement,
Facilitation,
Interaction,
Peer Review,
Web Conferencing
Description Supporting college students to develop critical thinking skills is an overarching goal in higher education. Students with developed critical thinking skills have the ability to evaluate their own arguments as well as others, resolve conflicts, and generate well-reasoned resolutions to complex problems (Behar-Horenstein & Niu, 2011). Given that there is an exponential increase in …
Continue reading “Use a Guided Approach to Support Critical Thinking in Online Discussions”
Related Tags:
Assessment,
Critical Thinking,
Discussions,
Facilitation,
Interaction,
Rubric,
Social Connection
Description Selecting an effective discussion topic is important, but does not guarantee an interactive, fruitful discussion. It is crucial for instructor to set the stage and establish clear expectations for how students should participate in the discussion. Learning Objectives Before designing an online discussion, think about what you want your students to learn from the …
Continue reading “Set Discussion Expectations”
Related Tags:
Course Protocol,
Discussions,
Expectations,
Facilitation,
Interaction
Description Setting up a discussion prompt is important for initial structuring, but it is crucial to facilitate during the discussion to ensure it is progressing. Baker (2011) warns, “Unmanaged discussions invite chaos.” However, most instructors agree that participation and grading of discussions takes the majority of one’s time (Cranney, Alexander, Wallace, & Alfano, 2011). Here …
Continue reading “Facilitate Discussions Effectively”
Related Tags:
Discussions,
Facilitation,
Interaction,
Scaffolding