When I want students to participate more in the discussions I probe for more information by asking students to share how the topic we are discussing affects them in their work environment by providing specific examples.
It is well-known that collaborative learning leads to deeper understanding of the concepts being discussed in the class. Keeping this in view, I always encourage students to actively interact with each other. Examples would be to request students help their classmates with examples similar to assignment questions, suggest alternative approaches to solving problems and provide weblinks with examples. Since I teach Math and Stat course this strategy works well in engaging students. Thanks
I like to ask additional questions of students that make them respond to the subject matter in more detail.
As an instructor, we should play an important role in the discussion forum. First we should have stated the participation requirement for students in the classroom (the number of messages and number of days for participation).
The best way to invite students to come back to the discussion forum is to ask them specific questions based on their messages. Students are more likely to check the responses to their messages and more likely to respond to the questions relevant to the posted messages.
Martha,
It might get a little easier; however, children are on social media because they are talking about things THEY want to talk about. We need to mirror that in the online classroom. Make assignments and discussions open ended enough that students can add their personal experiences and opinions. Try to find topics that motivate your student demographic. The more you connect with your student population, the more likely you are to motivate them and they will want to post to the discussions.
Herbert Brown III
The students need to be fired up a little in the discussions by the instructor. By reading the first few responses and try to put a twist on the discussion, I believe engages them more. Also if you breeze around the internet to find links that pertain to the topic, that may increase the interaction and thought. Do you think because future children use so much social media this will get easier to have discussion boards?
What will be your role in discussions?
As the course facilitator, my role is to guide the discussion and keep students engaged. The best way to accomplish this is to be an active participant myself. Sometimes, I will post my thoughts and opinions on the discussion topic.
How will you encourage substantive participation?
Stating clearly in the course expectations what counts as substantive participation. Students know that "good point" or "I agree" will result in point deductions.
What strategies will you use to extend learner’s thinking and keep the discussion focused on the intended outcomes?
Posting follow-up questions encourages students to "dig deeper."
The role of facilitator is a dynamic one. That is to say it must be able detect, conform, and direct discussion all at the same time. One strategy to connect with learners and to encourage engagement is to tie personal examples (actual or theoretical) with the learning material. This helps keep interest at a higher level as the students better connect with the material as well as each other.
Herbert & Peers,
I have observed the same behavior in my classes, there is a requirement and once that requirement is met there is nothing more needed. Personally I think we as faculty have to accept that this behavior is the fall back position.
With huge classes say over 30 or near 30 it is very difficult to try and draw out each and every student, and in fact I do not attempt to do this. What I seek is to find a real nicely stated post that covers a critical concept/topic and then to see input from class members to further clarify, add to, or draw out experience related to that concept/idea.
Tina,
I have not required students to identify the individual they are responding to, and you will find in my earlier posts that I have not done so. Yet I see the value in doing so, and will try to break my not doing so, and also begin seeking to get my students to doing this. Thanks
What a great discussion feed. I am considering online teaching after 7 years of class room teaching. Getting students to engage in the classes seems a little overwhelming and this discussion board seems to address many of the possibilities or problems one might encounter. Thanks for some good advice.
I am not there to dominate or control the discussion. I always post a thread for each week that poses a question to draw my students in. For example, I might ask could they do without the internet? I keep my thread still with the discussion focus in mind. I respond to each of my student's posting, and I always pose a question back to them. Again, I stay focused on the discussion topic, but I employ various techniques to keep the discussion flowing. For example, if the students are describing an experience at a fair, I might ask where is the fair located. This draws my student in and I have an active participant. :) I use lots of emotions too!
Melinda ,
That is true, we do need to model what we want from our students. That is also why it is important for us to have expectations for ourselves as instructors of a course and not just for our students.
Herbert Brown III
One has to model what they desire in student outcomes. If the instructor isn't meeting the requirements, students certainly won't.
Hello Instructor Brown,
In all of my classes, I ensure that the discussions are relevant, timely and I ask students specific questions to engage their thinking on a topic at a deeper level. I utilize Bloom's Taxonomy of questioning and the Taxonomy of Socratic Questioning, created by Richard Paul to guide my discussion questions. Richard Pauls’ Taxonomy of Socratic Questioning and phrases such as, "What are your thoughts?" "Can you tell me more?" "What particular piece of information leads you in that direction?" "What would be an example of?" "Could you explain your reasons to us?" "By what reasoning did you come to that conclusion?" "What do you think is the main issue here?" I've found that these types of questions lead students to think deeply and journey into the depths of their mind and heart.
Furthermore, I utilize constructivist instructional strategies, which is very effective in the collaborative online learning environment. Constructivism is characterized by assimilating new information and combining prior knowledge, which modifies current understanding and allows one to apply this "constructed" knowledge to the task at hand (Bowman and Conway, n. d.).
Therefore, students are able to readily apply their learning to current experiences, plus I am always asking them questions and will say "Your thoughts?" in order to get them to respond to my post. Finally, the first day of my class, I will have posted relevant information that students can utilize immediately. For instance, I post information on Bloom's work and I also discuss "what is" and "is not" a substantive response, such as saying "I agree" is not a substantive response. Happy Holidays!
Take care...
Dr. Naomi
To encourage more than the bare minimum, I would ask a series of thought provoking questions. The questions would be guided to keep the students on topic.
Its best to ask questions in your responses in an effort to facilitate the discusssion. Responses should also have direct coments that relate to valid points to allow the student to feel like they are successfully contributing.
When a student post the minimum requirements, our role as the facilitator is to encourage and probe the student for a more substantive response.
If I do not feel they are adequately answering the question, I will ask him or her additional questions.
I require students to post responses to other students in the forum, so there is a minimum level of engagement.
I also try to ask follow up questions when I respond to posts, in hopes of further engaging the student.
I also try to keep the forums lively by adding humor and being positive and friendly.
I respond to every student and I always ask questions.
