energizing online discussions

Introduction

Introduction

Jim Marteney

Introduction

Jim Marteney

Professor EmeritusCommunicati

on Studies

8 Years Ago Became

Distance Education Trainer

What’s Online Learning?

MOOC’s not

another word for Online

Learning

Just as 800 student

lecture not another word for seminar

Focus Now on

Engagement

I was told, “You’re lucky to be teaching adults.”

How We See Our Class Role

Variety of Challenges

Learning Styles

Generational Differences

Pedagogy vs. Androgogy

Digital Natives vs Digital Immigrants

Class Interaction

Instructor to Student

Student to Instructor

Student to Student

THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN AN ENGAGING

ONLINE COURSE

THE DIFFERENCE

AND A BORING ONLINE COURSE

STIMULATING DISCUSSIONS

From Facebook to texting, to

YouTube, our students are

ready to perform.

HIGHER ORDER THINKING

Discussions allow

for higher order

thinking skills

STRUCTURING A TOPIC

STRUCTURING A TOPIC

Title

Background

Sell Topic

Task

Responsibility

Value of Assignment

STRUCTURING A TOPIC

Write Enough

Make your expectations

clear

Add video or links

What is it worth?Don’t Assume they can read your

mind.

CREATING A TOPIC

Make the topics

interestingDon’t create topics with specific text

answersBe Creative

Require Student Evaluation

Require Student Judgment

EVALUATIVE TOPIC

“Look back at Chapter 1 and pick three types of punishments that we no longer use, and describe them.”

Administration of Justice Course Introduction to Corrections

“Look back at Chapter 1 and pick one of the types of punishments that we no longer use, and explain why you believe we should bring it back.”

GIVE STUDENTS CHOICES

ALWAYS SELL YOUR TOPIC

Why should your students

care?

EXPERTS ON A TOPIC

Adds valuable content and

insightStudents

appreciate expertsEasier to

recruit online experts

Gives you a break

EXPERTS ON A TOPIC

DISCUSSION USES

ICE BREAKERS

Not so successful

ICE BREAKERS

Successful

ICE BREAKERS

Tips

Build Trust: Answer your own questions

Ask interesting questions

Ask specific questions

ICE BREAKERS

Tips

This may be their first discussion,

make instructions clear

ICE BREAKERS

ICE BREAKERS

This is the first step in

tearing down the

wall between instructor

and student.

WHAT MIGHT YOU TRY?

What icebreaker topics might you

use?

TOPIC SAMPLES

EVALUATION TOPIC

USER GENERATED TOPIC

RESPONSE TO VIDEO

CREATIVE TOPIC

CREATIVE TOPIC

USER GENERATED TOPIC

USE POETRY

OFF THE WALL

DEBATE

SUMMARIZE HOMEWORK

Benefit From Tribal Learning

Combine Individual Work and Sharing With Others

SUMMARIZE HOMEWORK

SUMMARIZE HOMEWORK

AVENUE FOR THOUGHTS

AVENUE FOR THOUGHTS

Malala Yousafzai

AVENUE FOR THOUGHTS

AVENUE FOR THOUGHTS

AVENUE FOR THOUGHTS

We can also have some fun while learning

FUN LEARNING

FUN LEARNING

JUST PLAIN FUN

Social Communication Important

Increases Trust

Builds Learning Community

Halloween Party

Halloween Party

Halloween Party

Halloween Party

Halloween Party

Halloween Party

Halloween Party

Halloween Party

Halloween Party

Halloween Party

Thank you! That site was so fun! My friend and I were on it for hours! --- Fall 2011 student

ACTIVITY

RESULTS

RESULTS

WHAT MIGHT YOU TRY?

What topics might you use?

GRADING A DISCUSSION

Make Your Expectations Clear

GRADING A DISCUSSION

My Rubric

Wanted them to Post Early

Wanted them to Post Often

Wanted them to Respond to Classmates

Wanted Quality Posts

GRADING A DISCUSSION

WHAT MIGHT YOU TRY?

What might be your grading

criteria?

PUTTING STUDENTS IN GROUPS

PUTTING STUDENTS IN GROUPS

Student feels disconnected in

large group

Would feel more comfortable in

smaller, intimate group

PUTTING STUDENTS IN GROUPS

Too many in class for one discussion

groupTough to come up

with original answer as 42nd

studentCan make a

unique contribution in smaller group

PUTTING STUDENTS IN GROUPS

Want to create special

groups

PUTTING STUDENTS IN GROUPS

How many do you put in a

group?

First a couple of questions

A regular discussion 20

A student project 10-12

PUTTING STUDENTS IN GROUPS

First a couple of questions

How do you select members

of a group?Mix up high achievers with low?Keep high achievers together?

Have students self select?

PUTTING STUDENTS IN GROUPS

First a couple of questions

Assigning will save timeAssigning will save frustration

Can rotate assignments

Do you assign group

responsibilities?

USING GROUP ASSESSMENTS

Groups of One

Journal Writing

English

Communication

Child Development

Lab Reports

USING GROUP ASSESSMENTS

Group Projects

USING GROUP ASSESSMENTS

Group Projects

USING GROUP ASSESSMENTS

Group Projects

“Real” Group Projects

“Parallel Play” Group Projects

USING GROUP ASSESSMENTS

“Parallel Play” Group Projects

Group projects where members in the group are not dependent on each other to complete the

taskThey can help and inspire each other but their grade is not dependent on

other group members

USING GROUP ASSESSMENTS

“Parallel Play” Group Projects

USING GROUP ASSESSMENTS

“Parallel Play” Group Projects

USING GROUP ASSESSMENTS

“Parallel Play” Group Projects

USING GROUP ASSESSMENTS

Group Projects

“Real” Group Projects

“Parallel play” Group Projects

USING GROUP ASSESSMENTS

“Real” Group Projects

USING GROUP ASSESSMENTS

“Real” Group Projects

Group projects where people in the group are dependent on

each other to complete the task

Members divide duties and responsibilities and work together to

complete the task

USING GROUP ASSESSMENTS

“Real” Group Projects

Group Class Project:

Grading Points

Work together on a task

80 evaluation of the group process

20 evaluation of the final product

10 “bonus” participation from each other

USING GROUP ASSESSMENTS

“Real” Group Projects

Group Class Project:

Chapters will create an eBook

A chapter in a group text.

YOUR EXPERIENCES

Any ideas for Groups?

More than one More than one way to teach way to teach online.online.

We should not be about creating educational content.

We should be be about creating educational experiences.

““I never teach my I never teach my pupils. I only attempt pupils. I only attempt to provide the to provide the conditions in which conditions in which they can learn.they can learn.””

--Albert Einstein

Looking to the Future

Effective Effective Distance LearningDistance LearningThank youThank you