Student Interaction Kim Monti Nantana Wongtanasirikul Rong Zhu Extended Learning Institute April, 2009

Discussion Why are you attending today's session?

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

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 communication (How to be a critical thinker) Create activities that build upon interaction: simple interaction (icebreaker, discussion forum) to more complex interaction (group work)

Student & Instructor expectations

Netiquette

General guidelines for online communication (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 Purpose Engagement Structure

1 - Purpose Principle Use interaction for critical thinking beyond basic course content What thinking skills do you want students to develop?

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: Thinking skills desired An important course topic for which students can use these thinking skills

What thinking skills do you want students to develop?

Think about:

Thinking skills desired

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.

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?

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?

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).

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).

Factors to Think about Group Work More structured /formal format Long term activity Need final product May require Synchronous interaction Discussion Simple format Short term activity Sharing ideas / skills Asynchronous interaction Start slow ... then move to more complex interaction

Group Work

More structured /formal format

Long term activity

Need final product

May require Synchronous interaction

Discussion

Simple format

Short term activity

Sharing ideas / skills

Asynchronous interaction

Second, outline: Requirements for interaction (initial posts, replies, contributions, end product) Your Structure

Second, outline:

Requirements for interaction (initial posts, replies, contributions, end product)

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