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
Description Role playing in the context of educational simulations has been cited as a particularly engaging strategy for online courses (Ausburn, 2004; Bender, 2005; Cornelius, Gordon, & Ackland, 2011; Lytle, Lytle, & Brophy, 2006; Serby, 2011). Such role playing when conducted for an extended time period (e.g., for the duration of an academic term) in …
Continue reading “Engage Adult Learners with Course-Long Role Play”
Related Tags:
Adult Learning,
Engagement,
Interaction,
Role Play
Description An email message with a “hook” employs a concise, narrative-driven scenario to motivate students to log into an online course. These email messages have a provocative subject heading that summarizes a specific real life situation where learners would need to apply the content covered in that installment of the online course. When the learner …
Continue reading “Email Messages with a “Hook” that Prompts Logging In”
Related Tags:
Course Design,
Email,
Interaction,
Learner Motivation,
Problem-Based Learning,
Scaffolding,
Situated Cognition
Description Holding effective, engaging discussions in large classes can be a challenge. However, they provide an opportunity for online students to engage with each other and the instructor in a way not possible with other kinds of assessments. Here are some ideas to structure this effectively. Group Size: The most common acceptable number for groups …
Continue reading “Manage Discussions in Large Classes”
Related Tags:
Discussions,
Grading,
Interaction,
Large Classes,
Management,
Rubric
Description Discussion prompts are the written “springboard” from which online discussions are launched and are essential to encourage shared understanding (Du, Zhang, Olinzock, & Adams, 2008). Discussion prompts can vary from pithy (e.g., “Discuss [Topic X]”) to verbose (e.g., an entire printed page of instructions). However, the best standard for gauging the effectiveness of a …
Continue reading “Create Effective Discussion Prompts”
Related Tags:
Blog,
Communication,
Discussions,
Interaction,
Problem-Based Learning
Description Intervening with Students It is important to contact students when their observed behaviors within the course indicate cause for concern (e.g., disengaged or at-risk of not succeeding). In addition to the obvious behavior of not submitting assignments, checking the Learning Management System’s (LMS) “Student Tracking” tool frequently (sorting by last access) allows the instructor …
Continue reading “Keep Students Engaged/Successful with Intervention Messages”
Related Tags:
Email,
Instructor Presence,
Interaction,
Large Classes,
Learning Analytics,
LMS,
Motivation,
Student Tracking
Description In an online course, a frequent criticism is that the PowerPoint presentations are poorly designed and critical supporting information is often missing (with no presenter to fill in the blanks!). On the other hand, instructional simulations combine multimedia elements (i.e. sound, images, video, etc) to represent (simulate) particular aspects of an actual situation (Hays, …
Continue reading “Convert Course Materials into an Instructional Simulation using Gaming Elements”
Related Tags:
Active Learning,
Content,
Engagement,
Feedback,
Gamification,
Interaction,
Powerpoint,
Practice,
Simulation
Description Instructor: UCF’s Ms. Debbie Kirkley Course Title: EME5208 Production Techniques for Instructional Settings Instructor Testimony UCF education professor Debbie Kirkley uses student blogs to fulfill the requirement of students to keep a journal throughout the semester to reflect on course projects and their experiences. The benefits of using this type of blog are as …
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Blog,
Interaction,
Social Media,
Student Centered
Description Blogs offer an easy way for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and acquisition outside of the learning management system (EDUCAUSE, 2005). Link to example artifact(s) Example Instructor: UCF’s Dr. Thomas Brueckner Course Title: PSC1121 Physical Science UCF physics professor Dr. Thomas Brueckner uses a blog as a tool to communicate with students. He posts class announcements, …
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Related Tags:
Announcements,
Blog,
Communication,
Interaction,
Social Media,
Student Centered
