Student Interaction

Kim Monti

Nantana Wongtanasirikul

Rong Zhu

Extended Learning Institute

April, 2009

Discussion

Why are you attending today's session?

Session Goals

• Set the Stage for Interaction• Review General Design Principles for Student

Interaction• Purpose• Engagement• Structure

• Highlight Elements of Discussion and Group Work• Begin work on Student Interaction Worksheet

Setting the Stage

Student & Instructor expectations Netiquette General guidelines for online communicat

ion (How to be a critical thinker)

Create activities that build upon interaction: simple interaction (icebreaker, discussion forum) to more complex interaction (group work)

Design elements to encourage student interaction

PurposeEngagement Structure

1 - Purpose Principle

Use interaction for critical thinking beyond basic course content

• What thinking skills do you want students to develop?

Your Purpose

• What thinking skills do you want students to develop?

Think about:

1. Thinking skills desired2. An important course topic for which students

can use these thinking skills

2 - Engagement Principle

Assign interesting questions or challenging problems that are authentic and universal• Current controversies – Discuss the effects of the

economic crisis.• Real life problems – Recommend computer

specifications for a friend.• Shared desires and concerns – Critique a

children’s book.

Your Engagement 

• Current controversies• Real life problems• Shared desires and concerns

Think about:

How can each of your important topics be made engaging?

3 - Structure Principle

Shape the interaction with clear requirements for content and process

• What’s the desired thinking skill?• What’s the best kind of interaction for the goal?• What requirements will produce the interaction?• What facilitation by me will best support that interaction?

Your Structure

First, think about:

• Type of interaction Role Play, Debate, Case Study, Peer Critique, Concept

Mapping, Study Group, Group Presentation, Group Research/Project

•Form of interaction Discussion (Simple), Group Work (Complex).

Second, outline:Requirements for interaction (initial

posts, replies, contributions, end product)

Your Structure

Summary

Purpose: Use interaction for critical thinking beyond basic course content

Engagement: Assign interesting questions or challenging problems that are authentic and universal

Structure: Shape the interaction with clear requirements for content and process