Active Learning – Using Discussions Online

Center for Distance EducationInstructional Design Services

Dr. Prasanthi Pallapu

Objectives

• Active Learning • Interaction in an online course• Online Discussions

Definition

Active learning

• A process • Engages students in learning activities– reading, writing, discussion, or problem solving

• Promotes analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of course material.

http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tsal

Benefits

• Active Learning allows students to – engage with course material– participate in learning activities– collaborate with each other– analyze an argument– apply a concept to a real-world situation– etc…..

https://teachingcommons.stanford.edu/resources/learning-resources/promoting-active-learning

InteractionStudent-Student, Student-Content & Student-Instructor• Synchronous Interaction– Real time• Chat, Audio or Video Conferencing

• Asynchronous Interaction– Not occurring at the same time or not in real time• Discussion Forums• Email, Announcements, etc.• Content items in an online course

Why? for Students

• Do not feel left out - A sense of belongingness• Creates a learning community• Increases motivation and performance• Promotes independent, critical and creative

thinking• Encourages effective collaboration

Why? for Instructors

• Good return on the time invested to design the course– When students succeed - it is well worth the time• as it is all about student learning…..

• Immense opportunity to get to know your students through interaction

• Do not feel disconnected with students

Know your students• Get to know them– Connect and develop a professional relationship with

your students – Know each individual student

• Respond to each student in the Student Introductions forum• They need to know – you care and listen to them

– As they miss the in-person connection

– Share personal experiences as you interact for them to know that • You are a real person• You value their contributions

Instructor Presence• Be Present– Helps students feel that you are there for them– Engage or participate in some discussion • They need to see you are there with them during the

discussions

– Encourage students to interact with each other• Make sure that students are responding to their peers

Instructor Presence• Be Present– Clarify any information timely – provide examples – Facilitate conversations• This determines how students participate

– Make sure that your presence does not inhibit student-student interaction

Roles• Student - Self-Learners– Interact with the content material– Learn from Others - Interact with other students– Learn from the Instructor - Feedback

• Instructor– Moderator– Facilitator

Expectations• Set and share expectations– Netiquette – Rubrics– Guidelines

UIU ExpectationsItem III. 3 – Discussion and Participation

UIU Expectations

Discussion and Participation – Initial Response

UIU Expectations

Discussion and Participation – Participation

Questions• Select good topics for discussion questions– Reflection– Interpretation– Analysis– Problem-solving– Thought provoking– Real life – Personal Opinion

http://www.mcm.edu/elearning/Tutorials/PDF/Discussion_Questions_That_Work.pdfA

Questions• Avoid asking questions that has – Yes / no responses– Facts– Regurgitation from textbook

• Compound questions???

Samples• Using the information from chapters 7 & 8 on

emotional intelligence, give your own example that illustrates at least three of the author’s main concepts. You may use a personal experience or you may create an example.

• Discuss three advantages and three disadvantages of xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

http://www.uwosh.edu/d2lfaq/teaching-resources/discussions/discussion-question-tips-and-pointers

Personal Experience

Personal Experience

Personal Experience

Demonstration

uiuonline.com

Resources

• Mastering Online Discussion Board Facilitation https://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/stw/edutopia-onlinelearning-mastering-online-discussion-board-facilitation.pdf

• Outcomes of Chat and Discussion Board Use in Online Learning: A Research Synthesis http://www.thejeo.com/Archives/Volume9Number2/BlackmonPaper.pdf

• Engaging students in learning through online discussion: A phenomenographic study http://www.ascilite.org/conferences/hobart11/downloads/papers/Parisio-concise.pdf

Resources

• e-Coaching Tip 3: Developing Effective Questions for Online Discussions http://www.designingforlearning.info/services/writing/ecoach/tips/tip3.html

Upper Iowa UniversityUpper Iowa University www.uiu.eduCDE Professional Development Schedule

CDE Professional Development Schedule

Upper Iowa UniversityUpper Iowa University www.uiu.eduCenter for Distance Education

Education Services cdefaculty@uiu.edu Invitations to teach and course assignments

eLearning Team elearning@uiu.edu Faculty training courses, academic course access, students enrollments

Instructional Design Services idservices@uiu.edu Online course design and development.

UIU CDE Resources Website

UIU CDE Faculty Tutorials Website