Students helping Students
I think that it is vital to the online/distance learning for the students to engage and help each other. So having students post questions and then rewarding other students for correctly answering them is really important to the learning process. It really develops critical thinking and the communication process, which will help all the students with their future career goals.
Frances,
Yes, it is a challenge to "encourage" students to talk to each other. I actually have a rule online if students have a question about assignments, syllabus, whatever; they have to post the question in an open discussion board first. If a student answers it; both get participation points. This has worked for me.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Lauren,
That is one thing that I struggle with in the online environment is to get students to learn from each other. I try to reinforce it in chat sessions and mention in the discussion boards but I am not sure how successful that this method is for the students.
Yes! I learn everyday. That is one of the best things about being a teacher.
Dawn,
The beauty for online discussion is that we as teachers learn too.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I want to sign up for your classes too. That is exciting. I am going to use these tools. You are a Professor helping a Professor! Thanks for the tips.
-Dawn
Kim,
What a great use of a proprietary tool! This will help you in your own management.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I love this concept! We have a proprietary social networking site called KnowU in which students can friend each other as well as their instructors and know that a lot of my students will post questions, etc.. on their wall and other students will help them out. All online students now have to use KnowU to access their classes and so far, most students seem to like it and think it adds that social component that online students might miss.
Kim
Linnea,
I would like to be in our online course! I agree with your comments. I will look at the technology you suggested.Thanks!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I use many different ways in which to engage students and help them help each other. One of the most exciting things to my students is the use of multimedia. Each week I encourage them to explore a multimedia tool such as xtranormal, animoto, videos, glogster, etc. and ask them to present the week's materials using that tool. It creates an interesting new view for the other students and also helps them to think about what they learned and reinforce the materials.
Lauren,
You are right; and it keeps the emails down! I use discussion boards with students having to post a question the have there first before they email me. if a student answers a question correctly, they get extra points.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
