Gisela Redeker University of Groningen

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Stimulating undergraduate students’ involvement and interaction through electronic discussion assignments Gisela Redeker University of Groningen

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Stimulating undergraduate students’ involvement and interaction through electronic discussion assignments. Gisela Redeker University of Groningen. Overview. Electronic discussions as a supporting element in teaching Analysis of students’ e-discussions Content and style Interaction structure - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Gisela Redeker University of Groningen

Page 1: Gisela Redeker University of Groningen

Stimulating

undergraduate students’

involvement and

interaction through

electronic discussion

assignmentsGisela Redeker

University of Groningen

Page 2: Gisela Redeker University of Groningen

Overview

• Electronic discussions as a supporting element in teaching

• Analysis of students’ e-discussions– Content and style– Interaction structure– Relation between participation and grades

• Questionnaire study on e-discussions– Students’ opinions– Problems students encountered

Page 3: Gisela Redeker University of Groningen

Electronic Discussions:Uses in undergraduate teaching

• Stimulate interest and involvement

• Enhance peer community

• Stimulate collaborative learning

• Promote internet skills

Page 4: Gisela Redeker University of Groningen

Weekly ScheduleOrientation Course

Monday - take quiz on lecture (study questions)- start on reading assignment

Tuesday Discussion task available

Wednesday

Quiz on readings available

Thursday - 12 noon: disc. contribution 1 due

Friday - contribution 2 due- take quiz on readings- 3-5pm Lecture

Saturday Lecture notes and quiz on lecture available

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Discussion Topics

1. Discuss communication rules in different groups you belong to

2. Discuss the effects of non-verbal communication in a TV interview or discussion on the national elections

3. Berne’s transaction ‘games’ (discuss examples)4. Describe foreigners’ and your own stereotypes of ‘the

Dutch’ and your stereotype of one other nationality5. The role of the media in the assassination of Pim

Fortuyn6. Discuss a TV commercial of your choice: how does it

‘work’?7. Are e-discussions ‘mass communication’? Why (not)?8. Is TV (still) sexist? Discuss (counter?)examples.

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Page 7: Gisela Redeker University of Groningen

Thread 7

Length (number of reactions) = 8

Max. depth = 6

Page 8: Gisela Redeker University of Groningen

Thread 1

Length (number of reactions) = 14

Max. depth = 4

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Corpus of discussions

• 110 students in eight groups of 8-19 students

• Discussing eight topics• Mandatory: one initiative + one response

• ca. 1,500 contributions• 719 initiatives• 327 threads (392 initiatives not replied

to)

Page 10: Gisela Redeker University of Groningen

Length of Threads

GROUP

Ve-ZT-VaSN-RJ-MF-HC-EA-B

# R

EP

LIE

S P

ER

TH

RE

AD

(m

ea

ns)

6

5

4

3

2

1

DISCUSSION

groups

nonverbal

Berne

stereotypes

assassination

advertising

mass comm

sexism on TV

Page 11: Gisela Redeker University of Groningen

Depth of Threads

GROUP

Ve-ZT-VaSN-RJ-MF-HC-EA-B

MA

X D

EP

TH

OF

TH

RE

AD

(m

ea

ns)

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

.5

DISCUSSION

groups

nonverbal

Berne

stereotypes

assassination

advertising

mass comm

sexism on TV

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‘Extra Contributions’ and Course Result

Final grade (min=1, max=10)

10987654none

# s

tud

en

ts

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

Extra contributions

no (N=75)

yes (N=35)

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Questionaire Study (Veldman 2002)

# Students Respondents % Response

Comms 98 30 30.6%

TeachMath1 97 38 39.2%

TeachMath2 95 21 22.1%

Total 290 89 30.7%

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E-discussions: Pros and Cons

+Permanency+Independence of place+Independence of time+Self-paced (preparation time)

– No non-verbal communication– No direct reactions

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Students’ opinions

Features of e-discussions yes no

Contributions saved – ok? + 94% 2%

Not in the same place – ok? + 72% 17%

In your own time – ok? + 82% 16%

Prepare contributions? + 13% 74%

No non-verbal comm – ok? - 65% 24%

No direct reactions – ok? - 57% 34%

Page 16: Gisela Redeker University of Groningen

Have you experienced problems?

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

yes no yes no yes no

Comms Teach1 Teach2

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Problems Students Indicated

Problems Comms Teach1 Teach2 Total

Technical problems 1 7 8Software use 2 5 2 9Interaction and content 2 4 2 8

Total 5 16 4 25

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Are the e-discussions hard to follow?

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

yes no yes no yes no

Comms Teach1 Teach2

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Mandatory E-Discussions:

Useful in undergraduate teaching?

• Most students participate seriously,

even without moderation or grading

• Students do interact with each other

• Many students like/enjoy e-discussions

• Problems are often technical or due to

inexperience (i.e., they will decrease)