Conducting the Online Class

Threaded DiscussionChatroomsDiscussion BoardsConferencing

Two Kinds of Education

• Instrumental education– Learner acquires new knowledge or skills

• Transformative– Behavior modification

Research

• Community• Social Presence• Interactivity• Trad vs. ftf• Student centered• Factors that effect the mix of

technology

Chatroom

• Community

• Any number of people come in

• Live text-based chat

Threaded Discussion Board

• Threaded discussion boards are a way to facilitate online discussions. 

• Ability to communicate with one another online without having to coordinate your schedules. 

• E-mail Inbox will not become inundated by voluminous amounts of mail

Threaded Discussion

• Allows for assimilation, reflection & critical thinking

• Students need more guidance with asynchronous tools

Discussion Boards

• Non-threaded– Messages that won’t have further discussion

• Items for sale, help wanted, events, classified ads

• Semi-threaded – does not allow user to reply directly to already existing

replies. Replies are grouped together w/their associated message topics.

• Threaded– Reply to already existing reply– Grouping of replies can be displayed

Discussion BoardsDisadvantages

• Non-threaded– Harder to follow a group of related messages

• Semi-threaded – does not allow user to reply directly reply to

replies.

• Threaded– Must have Java enabled browsers

Instance Messaging

• Simple one-on-one chat

• Can be voice, text or call-&-respond

• AOL, Yahoo & MSN

Instance MessagingImagine that you are on the Web or phone with an student. She asks you a question that you do not know the answer to, but you know your another instructor in the next room would know. Instead of asking her to hold while you run around the office looking for the person with the answer, you stall while sending an instant message to your colleague. Seconds later, the instructor responds with the answer.

Conferencing

• Virtual meeting

• Use text, audio and video

• Whiteboarding & shared applications

• One-way is called “Webcasting”

Conferencing Uses

• Software demos

• Brainstorming sessions

• Meetings

• Orientation

• Training

• Presentations

• Distance learning

Key Issues in Asynchronous Learning (Threaded)

• Access

• Group dynamics– No more than 7 in a group

• Course Content

• Workload

• Training

• Evaluation (must post or absent)

Enhancing Communication

• Students share perspectives– Students can combine new opinions with their

own

• Students experience sense of equality– Shy, anxious students– Gender bias– Other bias

Netiquette

• ALL CAPS

• Don’t type junk (lk;fa;sfasdf)

• Don’t change your nickname

• Don’t change fonts and colors too much

Lessons Learned

• Student procrastinate more online

• Social presence– Use emoticons

• Schedule participation time

• Use strict guidelines

• Grades are dependent on timely participation

Hindering Environment

• Students do not want to leave their best ideas online

• Students feel they are “cheating” when they see other students’ ideas

• Students feel it is difficult to follow a discussion online without leadership

Guidelines

• Create an outline of different types of activities that challenge students to utilize – Personal introductions– Chapter summaries– Literature reviews– Quick pools of relevant “debates” in your field– Group debates– Students creating questions from class

material

Guidelines (con’t)

– Field work assignments (case studies)– Short research projects– Proposal writing– Peer review

Guidelines (con’t)

• Require students to login at least 3 times week

• Base quizzes on posted student info

• Make students defend their posts

• Praise students for quality answers– Can do privately through email

• Provide time for groups to work before posting

Guidelines (con’t)

• Metaphors for various discussion– “The Water Hole”– “The Library”– “Techies Anonymous”

• Individual standards of behavior– Formal or informal– Move from structured to unstructured

Guidelines (con’t)

• Students should come online at the same time

• Make computer conferencing a high priority

• Don’t assume students know how to collaborate

• Got to plan a framework ahead of time

• Don’t squeeze too much in a discussion

Examples of Good Use of Online Discussion

&Critical ThinkingRubric

See handouts