Get Your Students Hired
I've learned that synchronous discussions can be best managed by setting a convenient time and duration for learners that may be geographically disbursed, setting a time for socializing at the beginning and end, breaking topics into shorter segments to allow participation and formulate responses, and limiting the sessions to five or six participants.
Encouraging on-going participation with asynchronous discussions has been a challenge for me in the past. Finding incentives and keeping formatting clear and to the point might help.
I learned how to effectively manage synchronous and asynchronous discussion . I also learned the best way on how and when to give feedbacks to learners.
There is a lot of thought that goes into preparing and initiating sessions. I see myself creating a checklist drawn from this course to help me prepare fir my courses.
Engaging learners in an online forum requires constant communication and a variety of learning exercises.
Knowing when to use the synchronous meeting for direct dialogue can help express the discussions made during asynchronous meetings. Interesting uses for both can help the students experience a more inclusive classroom.
It is important to try both types communications with the students and to get feedback from them as to how you are doing as an instructor.
I found the suggestion toask students how the course is going and how you are doing to be helpful. I would even ask them to share what other teachers are doing that they like so that I can make improvements.
I liked the idea of providing summaries of the discussion board for review and for the instructor not to post until the end of the discussion board.
Asynchronous instuction provides an aopportunity for all students to participate unlike a classroom setting where you may have one or wo students who consistently particiapte.
Asynchronous conversations are intended for one student at a time. Usually when they are not understanding something. Synchronous conversations occur with all students.
Asynchronous is better technique than synchronous as it allows slower readers to feel more confident. Using smaller groups in discussions will be more helpful. It will be extremely important to teach proper netiquette in discussion as we will not be able to see expressions. Feedback will be important when using discussions and giving private feedback for grading purposes will be important.
I liked the clear explanations between synchronous and asynchonous discussions. I love how asynchronous pulls all students into the discussions and allows students time to prepare what they actually want to contribute to the discussions. I will be for to plan for time in the beginning to socialize and get to form relationships with my students instead of just the nitty gritty.
I like the idea of keeping the students informed or by sending an e-mail to help them undestand and not single them out if you feel they did not understand.
Synchronous discussions is not recommended for large groups, there are four major disadvantages to using synchronous to teach critical course content. Synchronous discussions happens in real time and are known as chat session.
Where asynchronous discussions happen at different moments. The discussions take place over a period of time.
Understanding learning styles will help, some of these inhibit student participation,
Avoidant competitive & dependent.
All in all really good information
I realize now that when evaluating student learning it is best to use asynchronous communication. Students who are unsure about content will be less likely to contribute in a synchronous situation.
Learning about the best uses of asynchronous discussions and synchronous discussions was very helpful.
I plan to add feedback to all graded reports and quizzes and make sure the criticism is used as a learning tool in a positive way.
Fostering Participation is the key to a successful online class. The teacher needs to know how to reach the student may it be in a asynchronous forum style or synchronous small group using reflection for feedback needs to be on going.