The document discusses strategies for promoting collaborative learning in an online writing course, focusing on learner-centered instructional techniques. It outlines the course's objectives, such as enhancing online research skills and fostering critical thinking, while providing guidelines for student interaction and participation. Additionally, it emphasizes the use of varied activities and the internet as resources to engage students.

1. “ Collaborative learning” (in an online writing course) Claudio de Paiva Franco (Cultura Inglesa, Duque de Caxias) I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8

2. Guiding Questions to Promote Collaborative Learning in Online Courses What is the content of this course? What aspects of the content lend themselves to collaborative activities? Is there an expectation that students will provide feedback to each other on their work? How will this be built into the course? How will individual performance be evaluated? I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8

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5. Course Aims To provide students with a deeper understanding of the subject they are studying; To allow students to develop greater facility with online research; To create connections that can serve students long after a course ends; To allow students to become critical thinkers. I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8

6. Learner-Focused Instructional Techniques to support online learners Begin course with introductions, posting of bios, or completion of profiles ; Be specific about the number of responses to other students’ posts required weekly; Be specific about the nature of the post and delineate what constitutes a substantive post to the discussion; Post guidelines for communication, including netiquette guidelines; Develop and post clear expectations for assignments, assignment completion deadlines, and means by which a grade will be earned; I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8

7. 6. Stay on top of student participation and follow up if it changes; 7. Keep the technology as simple as possible so that it becomes transparent to the user; 8. Ask open-ended questions to stimulate discussion, and encourage students to do the same; 9. Vary course activities to address all learning styles and to provide additional interest and multiple approaches to the topic; 10. Include the Internet as a teaching tool and resource, and encourage students to seek out references that they can share. Learner-Focused Instructional Techniques to support online learners I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8

8. Process Writing I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8

9. Interaction I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8

10. DISCUSSION 1 (S-T) STUDENT 1: Where can I learn more about connectives? ;-) TEACHER: Try these websites: http:// www.vivquarry.com/wkshts/linkwd.html http://www.uni-iessen.de/~ga1070/conjunctions.pdf QUIZ: http://www.learn-english-today.com / wordgames/hotpot-quizzes/linking-words1.html I hope you like them! :-) STUDENT 1: Thanks! I got 6 questions right out of 8! :-) That must be good! :D TEACHER: Considering the level of the activity, that’s a great achievement! I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8

11. DISCUSSION 2 (S-T / S-S) STUDENT 1: What do you do to improve your vocabulary? :-) TEACHER: I’ll let STUDENT 2 answer first. ;-) STUDENT 2: I listening music, watching films and sometimes I translate the songs… STUDENT 1: Hm… Thanks for the tips! ;-) I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8

12. Immediate feedback “hot potatoes” http://hotpot.uvic.ca I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8

13. Immediate feedback “hot potatoes” http://hotpot.uvic.ca I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8

14. Immediate feedback “hot potatoes” http://hotpot.uvic.ca I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8

15. New Perspectives I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8

16. Cheers! I X E n g l i s h T e a c h i n g F o r u m , 2 0 0 8 Claudio de Paiva Franco cpaivafranco@yahoo.com.br