TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION: TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION: ELECTRONIC DISCUSSIONSELECTRONIC DISCUSSIONS

CHAPTER SIXCHAPTER SIX

THE POWER OF eLEARNINGTHE POWER OF eLEARNING

Workshop PresentationWorkshop PresentationFriday, June 30, 2006Friday, June 30, 2006

By: Khadijah O. Miller, Ph.D.By: Khadijah O. Miller, Ph.D.Department of Interdisciplinary Department of Interdisciplinary

StudiesStudies

Overview of Presentation/Overview of Presentation/Chapter 6Chapter 6

Electronic Discussions (overview)Electronic Discussions (overview) ForumsForums ChatsChats Planning and Administering Planning and Administering

DiscussionsDiscussions Facilitating DiscussionsFacilitating Discussions Types of DiscussionsTypes of Discussions Examples from Khadijah Miller’s Examples from Khadijah Miller’s

experiencesexperiences

Electronic DiscussionsElectronic Discussions

Electronic Discussions are among the Electronic Discussions are among the most powerful communication tools most powerful communication tools in elearning. in elearning. Promote Promote Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking Promote Promote Active LearningActive Learning Promote/Encourage Promote/Encourage Higher Levels of Higher Levels of

Bloom’s Taxonomy Bloom’s Taxonomy (in particular, (in particular, application, analysis, synthesis and application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation). evaluation).

Electronic Discussions Electronic Discussions

Definition:Definition: A two-way communication used in A two-way communication used in

elearning; allows students to engage elearning; allows students to engage each other and/or the instructor in each other and/or the instructor in interactive learning in the “timeless” interactive learning in the “timeless” virtual world of the Internet. virtual world of the Internet.

Types: Types: SynchronousSynchronous and and AsynchronousAsynchronous AKA, Forums and AKA, Forums and Chats Chats

Electronic Discussions: Forums Electronic Discussions: Forums and Chatsand Chats

ForumsForums are ordinarily asynchronous are ordinarily asynchronous (which removes the element of time (which removes the element of time constraints— “anytime, anyplace” constraints— “anytime, anyplace” learning).learning).

ChatsChats are synchronous (meaning are synchronous (meaning that everyone meets ‘virtually’ at the that everyone meets ‘virtually’ at the same time, regardless of location).same time, regardless of location).

Benefits of Discussions: ForumsBenefits of Discussions: Forums Support Convenient communicationSupport Convenient communication

As well as encourage active learningAs well as encourage active learning Encourage thoughtful responsesEncourage thoughtful responses

As well as provide additional time for As well as provide additional time for reflection, analysis and proofreadingreflection, analysis and proofreading

Build communityBuild community As well as develop valuable interactive skillsAs well as develop valuable interactive skills

Create a permanent record of student Create a permanent record of student responsesresponses As well as assist in measurement and As well as assist in measurement and

assessment of facilitating skillsassessment of facilitating skills

Challenges of Discussions: ForumsChallenges of Discussions: Forums

Lack of Human ContactLack of Human Contact Time RequirementTime Requirement Students with Poor Attitudes (in course Students with Poor Attitudes (in course

site or classroom)site or classroom) Students with poor writing, spelling and Students with poor writing, spelling and

grammatical skillsgrammatical skills Fear of Public writingFear of Public writing Number of ParticipantsNumber of Participants Work load—Facilitator FrustrationWork load—Facilitator Frustration Technical DifficultiesTechnical Difficulties

Netiquette, Emoticons and Netiquette, Emoticons and AcronymsAcronyms

Netiquette:Netiquette: a term commonly a term commonly associated with two-way computer associated with two-way computer communications; basically etiquette communications; basically etiquette for the Net. for the Net. Provides Provides guidelinesguidelines about what is about what is

acceptable and non-acceptable behavior acceptable and non-acceptable behavior in electronic discussions and similar in electronic discussions and similar communication transactions, e.g., email. communication transactions, e.g., email. (see page 126, figure 6.3)(see page 126, figure 6.3)

Netiquette, Emoticons, and Netiquette, Emoticons, and Acronyms Acronyms

Emoticons:Emoticons: symbols used to convey symbols used to convey emotions in online communications. emotions in online communications. Don’t suggest we use—need to Don’t suggest we use—need to maintain an academic setting. maintain an academic setting. (see pg. (see pg. 127, figure 6.4)127, figure 6.4)

Acronyms:Acronyms: simply, an abbreviation simply, an abbreviation for a phrase or clause. Don’t suggest for a phrase or clause. Don’t suggest we use—except for common terms, we use—except for common terms, e.g., NSU or ASAP, not CUL8R. e.g., NSU or ASAP, not CUL8R. (see pg. (see pg. 127, figure 6.5)127, figure 6.5)

Facilitating, Planning and Administering Facilitating, Planning and Administering Electronic DiscussionsElectronic Discussions

A Successful Discussion A Successful Discussion is A is A

Well-Planned DiscussionWell-Planned Discussion

Facilitating, Planning and Administering Facilitating, Planning and Administering Electronic DiscussionsElectronic Discussions

Explain expectations, appropriate and Explain expectations, appropriate and inappropriate responsesinappropriate responses

Provide clear instructions for each Provide clear instructions for each discussiondiscussion

Phrase topics and questions clearlyPhrase topics and questions clearly Establish and enforce policies (length, Establish and enforce policies (length,

deadline/dateline, credit, etc.)deadline/dateline, credit, etc.) Alert students to time expectationsAlert students to time expectations Give assignments realistically and relative Give assignments realistically and relative

to workload. to workload.

Categories of Discussion Topics Categories of Discussion Topics

To promote critical thinkingTo promote critical thinking To summarize and clarifyTo summarize and clarify To introduce or prepare for new To introduce or prepare for new

topics/subjectstopics/subjects FAQ DiscussionsFAQ Discussions Homework DiscussionsHomework Discussions Get Help/Online Tutoring Get Help/Online Tutoring

(student/student and facilitator/student)(student/student and facilitator/student)

Categories of Discussion Topics Categories of Discussion Topics

Homework discussionsHomework discussions Guest speaker discussionsGuest speaker discussions Mentoring discussionsMentoring discussions Field Experience discussionsField Experience discussions Small Group Meeting discussionsSmall Group Meeting discussions Discussions to quiz studentsDiscussions to quiz students Discussions for role-playDiscussions for role-play ““Water fountain” discussionsWater fountain” discussions

Examples of Electronic DiscussionsExamples of Electronic Discussions

Some Favorites:Some Favorites: Emogene Vaughn-Johnson’s discussion Emogene Vaughn-Johnson’s discussion

boards for intellectual wellness—boards for intellectual wellness—includes a spiritual café and student-to-includes a spiritual café and student-to-student tutoring/study sessions.student tutoring/study sessions.

Enrique Zapatero’s live chat discussionsEnrique Zapatero’s live chat discussions—5 hours once a week—with graphs, —5 hours once a week—with graphs, power points and soon to add audio!power points and soon to add audio!

MORE Examples of Electronic MORE Examples of Electronic DiscussionsDiscussions

Khadijah Miller’s weekly discussion boards Khadijah Miller’s weekly discussion boards (serves as homework assignments) (serves as homework assignments) Discussion Boards also include “Getting to Know Discussion Boards also include “Getting to Know

You” board, FAQ Board, Wrap Up board, and You” board, FAQ Board, Wrap Up board, and “Purely discussion” board (student directed to “Purely discussion” board (student directed to post what they want).post what they want).

Live chats are 3-4 per semester, used as Live chats are 3-4 per semester, used as review sessions, to introduce new topics, review sessions, to introduce new topics, and “touch base” with students who may and “touch base” with students who may feel disconnected. feel disconnected.

What Do You Think?What Do You Think?

Questions, Answers, Comments…Questions, Answers, Comments…

Thank you for Your Attention!Thank you for Your Attention!