how online discussions can transform teaching

How Can Online Discussions Transform My Teaching?

Catlin Tucker – English language arts teacher and curriculum specialistColt Briner – Former ESL teacher and co-creator of Collaborize Classroom

How to Engage Students Online

Increase Participation & Improve Discussions

1. Discussions are critical to learning2. What are the benefits of taking discussions online?3. Establish and maintain a safe space online4. Design quality questions5. Get students to say something substantial6. Incorporate multimedia7. Weave work online back into the classroom

Approx. 45 minutes

Discussions are Critical to Learning

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Traditional Teaching:• Isolated students• Single learning source• Time limited to class period• Consumers, not contributors• Loud students dominate discussions• Poor sense of community

Connected students:• Creative opportunities • Asynchronous, differentiated learning • Consumers and contributors• Fewer barriers • 30 additional learning sources• More for participation • Strong sense of community• Improved modeling of good work• Convenient use of multimedia

In-Class Discussions – a poll

What are discussions like in your class?

• Awesome – Intellectual discourse of the highest order

• Good – Students engaged, nearly everyone participates

• Fair – Room for improvement

• A struggle - Like recruiting for jury duty

• What is this “discussion” of which you speak?

Barriers to In-Class Discussions?

Barriers to In-Class Discussions?

What obstacles do you face?

• Rush Limbaugh is in my class

• Like roaches when the lights come on

• Just a wee bit crunched for time

• “Excuse me but, aren’t you supposed to tell us the answer?”

• Feels like the inquisition

What are the benefits of taking discussions online?

More time

Equity of voice

Increasedparticipation

Less anxiety

Support asynchronous group work

Online transcript

Flexibility

Better modeling

21st Century skills

“To repeat what others have said, requires education; to challenge it, requires brains”

- Mary Pettibone Poole

Establish & Maintain a Safe Space Online

Responsible & Supportive Communication

Critique;don’t criticize Use names

Compliment

Ask questions

Design Quality Questions

Inspire Substantive Responses that Drive Discussions

What does a strong question look like?

Does Reading Cure Racism?

Do you agree with Angelou’s statement that the only way we as a society will be free of the “blight of ignorance” is if we read and learn about African Heritage? Do you agree that reading, knowledge and education are essential to respecting differences and forming cross racial friendships? If so, why do you agree? If not, what do you think is crucial to eliminating ignorance between racial groups?

Design different types of questions

Start with a catchy title

Incorporate multimedia

Layer questions

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” - William Butler Yeats

Incorporate Multimedia

Videos

Photos

PDFs

Visually Stimulating

Incorporate the best online resources

Slide Decks

Audio

Get Students to Say Something Substantial

Build on other students’

ideas

Ask questions

Make connections

Think outside the box

Offer alternative perspectives

Include details and evidence

Weave Work Online Back Into the Classroom

• Review discussion highlights

• Follow up debates

• Answer remaining questions

• Discuss results

• Groups present work done online

Links and Contacts Thanks for listening!

Colt Briner – (707) 292-7325cbriner@WeCollaborize.com

@WisdomOfWe

http://CollaborizeClassroom.com

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