TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION: ELECTRONIC DISCUSSIONS CHAPTER SIX THE POWER OF eLEARNING Workshop Presentation Friday, June 30, 2006 By: Khadijah O. Miller, Ph.D. Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

Overview of Presentation/ Chapter 6 Electronic Discussions (overview) Forums Chats Planning and Administering Discussions Facilitating Discussions Types of Discussions Examples from Khadijah Miller’s experiences

Electronic Discussions (overview)

Forums

Chats

Planning and Administering Discussions

Facilitating Discussions

Types of Discussions

Examples from Khadijah Miller’s experiences

Electronic Discussions Electronic Discussions are among the most powerful communication tools in elearning. Promote Critical Thinking Promote Active Learning Promote/Encourage Higher Levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (in particular, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation).

Electronic Discussions are among the most powerful communication tools in elearning.

Promote Critical Thinking

Promote Active Learning

Promote/Encourage Higher Levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (in particular, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation).

Electronic Discussions Definition: A two-way communication used in elearning; allows students to engage each other and/or the instructor in interactive learning in the “timeless” virtual world of the Internet. Types: Synchronous and Asynchronous AKA, Forums and Chats

Definition:

A two-way communication used in elearning; allows students to engage each other and/or the instructor in interactive learning in the “timeless” virtual world of the Internet.

Types: Synchronous and Asynchronous AKA, Forums and Chats

Electronic Discussions: Forums and Chats Forums are ordinarily asynchronous (which removes the element of time constraints— “anytime, anyplace” learning). Chats are synchronous (meaning that everyone meets ‘virtually’ at the same time, regardless of location).

Forums are ordinarily asynchronous (which removes the element of time constraints— “anytime, anyplace” learning).

Chats are synchronous (meaning that everyone meets ‘virtually’ at the same time, regardless of location).

Benefits of Discussions: Forums Support Convenient communication As well as encourage active learning Encourage thoughtful responses As well as provide additional time for reflection, analysis and proofreading Build community As well as develop valuable interactive skills Create a permanent record of student responses As well as assist in measurement and assessment of facilitating skills

Support Convenient communication

As well as encourage active learning

Encourage thoughtful responses

As well as provide additional time for reflection, analysis and proofreading

Build community

As well as develop valuable interactive skills

Create a permanent record of student responses

As well as assist in measurement and assessment of facilitating skills

Challenges of Discussions: Forums Lack of Human Contact Time Requirement Students with Poor Attitudes (in course site or classroom) Students with poor writing, spelling and grammatical skills Fear of Public writing Number of Participants Work load—Facilitator Frustration Technical Difficulties

Lack of Human Contact

Time Requirement

Students with Poor Attitudes (in course site or classroom)

Students with poor writing, spelling and grammatical skills

Fear of Public writing

Number of Participants

Work load—Facilitator Frustration

Technical Difficulties

Netiquette, Emoticons and Acronyms Netiquette: a term commonly associated with two-way computer communications; basically etiquette for the Net. Provides guidelines about what is acceptable and non-acceptable behavior in electronic discussions and similar communication transactions, e.g., email. (see page 126, figure 6.3)

Netiquette: a term commonly associated with two-way computer communications; basically etiquette for the Net.

Provides guidelines about what is acceptable and non-acceptable behavior in electronic discussions and similar communication transactions, e.g., email. (see page 126, figure 6.3)

Netiquette, Emoticons, and Acronyms Emoticons: symbols used to convey emotions in online communications. Don’t suggest we use—need to maintain an academic setting. (see pg. 127, figure 6.4) Acronyms: simply, an abbreviation for a phrase or clause. Don’t suggest we use—except for common terms, e.g., NSU or ASAP, not CUL8R. (see pg. 127, figure 6.5)

Emoticons: symbols used to convey emotions in online communications. Don’t suggest we use—need to maintain an academic setting. (see pg. 127, figure 6.4)

Acronyms: simply, an abbreviation for a phrase or clause. Don’t suggest we use—except for common terms, e.g., NSU or ASAP, not CUL8R. (see pg. 127, figure 6.5)

Facilitating, Planning and Administering Electronic Discussions A Successful Discussion is A Well-Planned Discussion

A Successful Discussion

is A

Well-Planned Discussion

Facilitating, Planning and Administering Electronic Discussions Explain expectations, appropriate and inappropriate responses Provide clear instructions for each discussion Phrase topics and questions clearly Establish and enforce policies (length, deadline/dateline, credit, etc.) Alert students to time expectations Give assignments realistically and relative to workload.

Explain expectations, appropriate and inappropriate responses

Provide clear instructions for each discussion

Phrase topics and questions clearly

Establish and enforce policies (length, deadline/dateline, credit, etc.)

Alert students to time expectations

Give assignments realistically and relative to workload.

Categories of Discussion Topics To promote critical thinking To summarize and clarify To introduce or prepare for new topics/subjects FAQ Discussions Homework Discussions Get Help/Online Tutoring (student/student and facilitator/student)

To promote critical thinking

To summarize and clarify

To introduce or prepare for new topics/subjects

FAQ Discussions

Homework Discussions

Get Help/Online Tutoring (student/student and facilitator/student)

Categories of Discussion Topics Homework discussions Guest speaker discussions Mentoring discussions Field Experience discussions Small Group Meeting discussions Discussions to quiz students Discussions for role-play “Water fountain” discussions

Homework discussions

Guest speaker discussions

Mentoring discussions

Field Experience discussions

Small Group Meeting discussions

Discussions to quiz students

Discussions for role-play

“Water fountain” discussions

Examples of Electronic Discussions Some Favorites: Emogene Vaughn-Johnson’s discussion boards for intellectual wellness—includes a spiritual café and student-to-student tutoring/study sessions. Enrique Zapatero’s live chat discussions—5 hours once a week—with graphs, power points and soon to add audio!

Some Favorites:

Emogene Vaughn-Johnson’s discussion boards for intellectual wellness—includes a spiritual café and student-to-student tutoring/study sessions.

Enrique Zapatero’s live chat discussions—5 hours once a week—with graphs, power points and soon to add audio!

MORE Examples of Electronic Discussions Khadijah Miller’s weekly discussion boards (serves as homework assignments) Discussion Boards also include “Getting to Know You” board, FAQ Board, Wrap Up board, and “Purely discussion” board (student directed to post what they want). Live chats are 3-4 per semester, used as review sessions, to introduce new topics, and “touch base” with students who may feel disconnected.

Khadijah Miller’s weekly discussion boards (serves as homework assignments)

Discussion Boards also include “Getting to Know You” board, FAQ Board, Wrap Up board, and “Purely discussion” board (student directed to post what they want).

Live chats are 3-4 per semester, used as review sessions, to introduce new topics, and “touch base” with students who may feel disconnected.

What Do You Think? Questions, Answers, Comments… Thank you for Your Attention!

Questions, Answers, Comments…

Thank you for Your Attention!