Course design strategies for increasing student participation in online discussions
Concurrent Session 4
Brief Abstract
A good online discussion will engage students beyond the read, write, and respond model, as this approach can seem routine and obligatory. We look to stimulate critical thinking and reflection. This session will present various tools, techniques, and strategies for creating impactful online discussion activities in your courses.
Presenters
Extended Abstract
Online discussion boards in higher education have become a staple of teaching and learning. However, they often become formulaic and lack innovation. Unlike discussions in face-to-face classroom which can be lively and dynamic, online discussions sometimes fail to engage students. Students frequently focus more on the frequency and word count of their discussion posts (the “post an initial thread and respond to two/three others” model) rather than the quality of reflection or the thoughtfulness of their responses. The result are posts that are submitted shortly before deadlines a generally minimal effort from many students, all while overwhelming students with the sheer number of post activity in the class discussion.
This session will explore creative ways which allow course developers and instructional designers to implement innovation and technology to supplement and transform their discussion assignments. We will discuss a myriad of inventive tools and techniques to enhance collaboration and foster a sense of community in online discussions. When students are engaged through meaningfully interaction (i.e. social learning) and high level synthesis, students form a connected community of learners that achieve outcome mastery.
We will present research conducted at Pacific Oaks College and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology which compared traditional models of online discussion boards with avant-garde approaches to improving student interaction to effectively build an online community within the classroom, help to foster student engagement, and enhance teaching and learning. We will discuss several examples of novel approaches to online discussions, review the analysis of the discussion format efficacy, and offer recommendations based on our findings.
Where discussion can be improved begins with the design and pedagogy. While maintaining proper curriculum alignment of learning outcomes through program outcomes, discussion assignments can shift the focus of the task from reflections of assignment readings to synthesis and application of critical thinking – mirroring more of a socrative method common in face-to-face classroom discussion activities. Although online discussion formats tend to be fixed and methodic in structure, the reality is that discussions should in fact be designed specifically to meet the needs of the learning objectives and reflect the content and outcomes of the course.
In addition to assessment design and pedagogy, course creators and instructional designers should seek out innovation and technology to supplement the structure of the discussion assignment. One should never incorporate technology simply to introduce novelty to an assignment. However, there are a myriad of innovative tools and techniques that we will discuss in this session which can greatly enhance collaboration and foster a sense of community in online discussions. When students are engaged through meaningfully interaction (i.e. social learning) and high level synthesis, the results are a connected community of learners that achieve outcome mastery.
In this session, we will present research which compared traditional models of online discussion boards with avant-garde approaches to improving student interaction as a means to effectively build an online community within the classroom, help to foster student engagement, and enhance teaching and learning. We will discuss several examples of novel approaches to online discussions, review the analysis of the discussion format efficacy, and offer recommendations based on our findings.
Participants who attend this session will:
Discover novel approaches to designing and administering online discussion boards
Review student feedback and statistical data regarding the efficacy of the discussion boards, including the advantages and disadvantages of each format