Francis ,
These are both excellent recommendations and powerful tools for engaging the students. Thank you.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
A trick that I learned early on in my online career is to use the learners name in my responses to the things they write in the forums. Most people like to see their name. It makes it feel personal; like someone actually read what they had to say. It also helps to ask follow up questions to the things they have written.
Chad,
Direct questions for many students is a great invitation. For some, it may intimidate but still garner a response. Getting the learners engaged in the discussion is almost always move in the positive direction. Even though it may be painful for some. Good approach.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I feel it is important to find the "hot" topic of the forum and try and get the students to respond to it. Also I have found that by asking direct questions to individuals in open forum will typically garner a response.
Alicia,
Please elaborate on this idea. I don't quite understand it. Thank your for your considered participation.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Yes, where ultimately we can loose the way the perception of engagemnent through everyday involvement.
Amy,
This is an excellent approach. Keep up the great work.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
My role in the discussions to encourage and faciliate further discussion. This means, while the students will provide the bulk of the discussion, I will incorporate connections and content to add more to the discussion, get the students back on track when they veer off onto tangents, and ask questions to garner further thought and discussion.
The best strategy I have found is asking questions. While I like to respond to each student's post individually at first, I like to end the post with a general question for the class, so that all feel comfortable to participate.
For example, "Student, your response to the question was detailed and exhibited clear understanding of the course content. I specifically appreciate your comment, "...." Class, Student's comment made me wonder, ....(insert question here)?
Kimberly,
You are correct, the Socratic questioning is a foundational component for individual reflection and critical thinking on the part of the student. In the student-centered, constructivist online classroom is a basic tool.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
This is a great question. I ask a lot of questions. I log in 5 or 6 days a week and post at least 3 times a day. Sometimes I ask the same questio to several students - why not? I think that it is important to dig deep with students and have them think.
I think socratic questioning works best in the online environment. I tend to keep asking over and over of students. No one wants to hve theri teacher ask them a question and not respond.
I know it has always worked for me :)
Kim
Alicia,
Very good point, our perception of engagement is important. We need to be sure we are assessing and evaluating engagement appropriately.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I strongly agree, once the discussion is answered and relayed to the instructor, the students disengage. I really do not think it is that they are not engaged, I believe it is the lifestyle in which we live in that alters our perception of staying engaged. Students often have the idea, as long as the work is done, I am ok. When learning it is not ok, it is actually the opposite.
Joye,
Getting the students to respond beyond the initial post can sometimes get them into a "hearty" engagement in the topic with fellow learners. Very nice.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Joye,
Both of these are good points. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Joye,
This is a solid approach and good objectives for the discussion. In the very public setting affirmations of appropriate postings by students with thought-provoking questions to extend the discussion is the focus. Very good. Thanks.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Catherine, I have also played devil's advocate in some instances. I enjoy when students have a dialogue among themselves, as sometimes I find that a student's response to another student has more "meat" in it then when they respond to my initial post.
Christopher, I think this is a great way to continue discussion beyond the original post required. This would not only encourage that particular student to further the discussion, but perhaps others in the forum would read that article and also engage in the conversation.
My role in discussions would be to affirm what I've read and pose a question in response to my student's post. Hopefully by doing so the student will respond and we will engage in a discussion beyond the minimum post required. Using my personal professional experience may also bring a new approach to the discussion.
Elaina ,
This is a classic in many ways. It is also a powerful tactic in the online environment.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
My role as a facilitator in asynchronous discussions is to synthesize, reflect, restate, redirect, and promote conversation.
Socratic questioning is one method I use to extend learner thinking and keep the discussion focused. Socratic questions clarify conceptual questions, probe assumptions, probe evidence/rationale, question viewpoints, and probe implications (Socratic Questions, n.d.).
Reference:
Socratice Questions. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://changingminds.org/techniques/questioning/socratic_questions.htm
