Utilizing Course Management Tools for Expanding Discourse in Book Clubs

Ideas for Expanding Discourse Online…

Moves to expand discourse by creating a blended book club with Schoology

• “Tell me more about…”• Use ideas from your discussions…

– “last week a few of you mentioned that Tally was a very relatable character. I would like you to give me some examples of how she is relatable for you in your everyday life.”

• Choice Prompt– Students can select a prompt that interests them (prompts can be fun activities too…)

• Find out about what engages them in the novel and use that in the discourse. • You Share too!• Brainstorm ideas for the discuss topic that day (poll and vote!)• Web2.0 tools

– Create avatar in character image (voki.com)– Select words that describe plot/character then use a Word Cloud Generator (Wordle)

• Use the “Blog tool” to write a blog post• Private message feedback (I really like how you did X in the discussion today…)• Digital “turn and talk”

– Have a 2-way conversation in Schoology between two students about a specific topic. • Digital Scavenger Hunt

– Hunt and post an image or piece of multimedia that relates to a character or plot – Others can reply and “guess” the plot/character

Use Relatable Multimedia

Taking on the role of a character for a Live Salon (names in a hat option too)

Encourage students to post discussion topics

Let students use their own chatspeak or jargon (or make it up!)

Schoology

• http://schoology.com • Similar to Edmodo• You will join your group (you will have a

“student” role)• Discussions for book club under MATERIALS

tab

Group Codes

• Login to http://schoology.com • Click on JOIN (use group code)• First and Last Name• When you join go to Discussions• To see your group’s discussions you need to

post. I recommend posting and then deleting your post (you have to click on and off of the Schoology page).

How can you the expand discourse in these posts?