Post on 21-May-2015
How Can Online Discussions Transform My Teaching?
Catlin Tucker – English language arts teacher and curriculum specialistColt Briner – Former ESL teacher and co-creator of Collaborize Classroom
How to Engage Students Online
Increase Participation & Improve Discussions
1. Discussions are critical to learning2. What are the benefits of taking discussions online?3. Establish and maintain a safe space online4. Design quality questions5. Get students to say something substantial6. Incorporate multimedia7. Weave work online back into the classroom
Approx. 45 minutes
Discussions are Critical to Learning
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Traditional Teaching:• Isolated students• Single learning source• Time limited to class period• Consumers, not contributors• Loud students dominate discussions• Poor sense of community
Connected students:• Creative opportunities • Asynchronous, differentiated learning • Consumers and contributors• Fewer barriers • 30 additional learning sources• More for participation • Strong sense of community• Improved modeling of good work• Convenient use of multimedia
In-Class Discussions – a poll
What are discussions like in your class?
• Awesome – Intellectual discourse of the highest order
• Good – Students engaged, nearly everyone participates
• Fair – Room for improvement
• A struggle - Like recruiting for jury duty
• What is this “discussion” of which you speak?
Barriers to In-Class Discussions?
Barriers to In-Class Discussions?
What obstacles do you face?
• Rush Limbaugh is in my class
• Like roaches when the lights come on
• Just a wee bit crunched for time
• “Excuse me but, aren’t you supposed to tell us the answer?”
• Feels like the inquisition
What are the benefits of taking discussions online?
More time
Equity of voice
Increasedparticipation
Less anxiety
Support asynchronous group work
Online transcript
Flexibility
Better modeling
21st Century skills
“To repeat what others have said, requires education; to challenge it, requires brains”
- Mary Pettibone Poole
Establish & Maintain a Safe Space Online
Responsible & Supportive Communication
Critique;don’t criticize Use names
Compliment
Ask questions
Design Quality Questions
Inspire Substantive Responses that Drive Discussions
What does a strong question look like?
Does Reading Cure Racism?
Do you agree with Angelou’s statement that the only way we as a society will be free of the “blight of ignorance” is if we read and learn about African Heritage? Do you agree that reading, knowledge and education are essential to respecting differences and forming cross racial friendships? If so, why do you agree? If not, what do you think is crucial to eliminating ignorance between racial groups?
Design different types of questions
Start with a catchy title
Incorporate multimedia
Layer questions
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” - William Butler Yeats
Incorporate Multimedia
Videos
Photos
PDFs
Visually Stimulating
Incorporate the best online resources
Slide Decks
Audio
Get Students to Say Something Substantial
Build on other students’
ideas
Ask questions
Make connections
Think outside the box
Offer alternative perspectives
Include details and evidence
Weave Work Online Back Into the Classroom
• Review discussion highlights
• Follow up debates
• Answer remaining questions
• Discuss results
• Groups present work done online
Links and Contacts Thanks for listening!
Colt Briner – (707) 292-7325cbriner@WeCollaborize.com
@WisdomOfWe
http://CollaborizeClassroom.com
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