Academic Content in Discussion Boards

Academic Content inDiscussion Boards

byFred Feldon

January 2012


Discussion boards should be “the heart” of

an online class!


Keeps students engaged


Students take an activerole in their learning, which

increases success and retention


On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog


Anonymity and forethought encourages participation


Builds skills in communicating mathematically


“There must be far less telling on the part of the

teacher, and far more doing on the part of the student.” Jean Piaget


Creates a sense of community


Duplicates the interaction that normally takes place in a classroom


Builds technical skills


Prepares students for “real life”

Screen CaptureSoftware

Screen CaptureSoftware

http://www.techsmith.com/jing

Add “Embed HTML” Button to Jing

Add “Embed HTML” Button

to Jing

Capturing the

Embed Code

Pasting the Embed Code

Pasting the Embed Code:Old Design

Pasting the Embed Code:New Design (2012+)


Warning: These instructions may change if, for example, Pearson adds an “insert image” icon in the menu which is planned for the future…

Right Click Here


Closing thoughts (for professors)…

• Create a warm and welcoming atmosphere that integrates students socially and academically into the course • Allow enough wait time to ensure peer interaction and student self-discovery• Avoid omniscient overbearing or evaluative posts that inhibit future participation• Start a new conversation when one is stale or there’s a period of silence (Add a relevant link to a current event, for example, to discuss)• Model the behavior you are trying to elicit from students• If the discussion board is boring for you, it will definitely be boring for your students!• Sustained interaction becomes a rich environment for critical thinking to flourish


Closing thoughts (for students)…

• Check the discussion board every time you log on to the course website; it should be the first thing you do, the first place you go• Read every new message before you post; your question may have already been answered• Learn how to get your academic content (your solution to a problem, for example, or a question from the online homework) on the screen with the print screen button, screen capture software, a webcam, a camera, your cell phone camera, a printer/scanner, etc.• Learn how to add arrows, boxes, text, highlighting, etc. to your image• There is no “silly question.” What’s silly is not asking a question. The professor and your fellow students will all appreciate it and learn something from it, guaranteed!• If someone answers your question be sure to thank them then “close the loop” by saying you got it or ask for more help if you need it; other students may also add their thoughts and contribute to the discussion


Closing thought (for everyone)…

Discussion forum dialogue has the potential to be the most valuable learning opportunity in the online

environment!

Thank You

[email protected]

This presentation is available to download at

http://www.slideshare.net/ffeldon

Academic Content in Discussion Boards

Technology

Transcript of Academic Content in Discussion Boards