Online Class Discussions
For me, the three most important things to consider are:
1. Knowing the subject matter that is within your field of study. For example you may have a degree in criminal justice but lack the skills to teach in the legal courses, or you are an attorney but do not have the applied experience to teach classes on law enforcement, or corrections.
2. Continue to ask questions related to the topic, going beyond the existing parameters of the class discussion to include additional information or issues related to the assigned topic to perpetuate interest in the class discussion throughout the given time period.
3. Keeping then discussion on track, managing the class discussion to ensure an enhanced learning experience.
Kevin,
Asking good questions can really stimulate the discussion board or synchronous chat conversations. The more we can do to help our students think critically, the better. Thanks!
Because I teach Humanities, the class discussion tend to be less focused on course content than to applying course content to questions or dilemmas related to the students' own experiences.
As a result, I find that, while I need to know the content, my best strategy is to ask provocative questions early in the week, so that they sit there as challenges to the students. Sometimes, this does require that I pay careful attention to make sure the conversation stays friendly, scholarly, and appropriate, but these are the conversations and challenges that students in bricks and mortar classrooms need to deal with all the time. They are critical thinking questions, and the Discussion Boards, it seems to me, are the place for students to apply their developing critical thinking abilities in more flexible ways.
Tough to do, but when it works, it is awesome.
Kevin
Emory,
Engagement is so important. The more enthusiastic we are about what we are doing, the more the students will see/feel the excitement. Thanks!
I completely agree with you. To keep the students engaged you need to know what your talking about. I also agree with being enthusiastic. I begin all of my classes with a bio including the work I've done since being in the industry. That immediately gets the students pumped and ready for the course. I continue to share personal work stories as they relate to the topic being discussed. It's a great way to keep the students attention.
gene ,
Right on! The instructor's enthusiasm can be contagious. Thanks for your input and gicving us food for thought.
absolutely: know your content, theoretical & experiential: connect & engage students with enthusiasm & positive engagement.
Kimberly and Marshall,
Thanks for the conversation. Knowing your audience is essential. This is true in any situation. Thanks for your input.
I agree with you Marshall. It is highly important that you know the subject matter if you want a successful delivery. Including the audience is also important if you want to maintain their attention throughout your presentation. Very good points.
Paula,
There needs to be a good combination between a subject expert and teaching expert. We all need to strive to be both. Thanks for your input.
Hello
I do agree that being a subject expert is very important. I teach Health Information Management and I have been in the industry for 30+ years. This makes it very interesting as I feel I am learning as I teach.
Thanks!
Paula
Catherine,
Thanks for your input. Keep up the good questioning technique. Students may need prompting to go deeper into their thinking and the content in general.
Hi Marshal and Class,
I think that all three things you stipulated are important. I have found that it is also important to help the students think critically and dig deeper into the topic. For instance, I teach at an international university and the students all have significant experience in their respective fields and are working on master's degrees. I find that asking follow-up questions that lead to deeper thinking and application of the material is key to a more solid understanding of the course theories. Until the student can apply the learning, they have not accomplished the learning goals.
Catherine McBride
Geri,
You are so right. We have to be motivated, enthusiastic, and engaged if we expect our students to be as well. Thanks!
If the instructor is not engaged how do we expect the student to be engaged
Kenneth,
Being a good facilitator is difficult at times, but so important. The students need to have effective discussions and not just simple posts. Nice job.
Keeping the discussion on track and staying active in the discussions are very important for the facilitator. We need to montor the discussions and make sure the students are following proper netiquette and adding to the online conversation.
Ken
Jeffrey,
I use a rubric to assess discussion board postings and that has helped with engagement and the quality of postings. I have also divided students into groups and made them responsible for a discussion board so they have to interact with each other. I also use group virtual groups. Hope this helps.
What are some ideas to improve engagement in the online setting?
Nina,
Asking open ended questions is the key. Simple yes/no questions will not encourage students to think critically. Thanks for your input.
