Here is what I have:
Leading on-line discussions
Each group will be responsible for leading an on-line discussion for their
debate topic that will count as 10% of your debate grade. Briefly summarize
the topic and any information that you have to share, compose discussion
question(s) for their classmates (using either closed or open-ended
questions) that require some thought, some different opinions, and maybe
some controversy, facilitate the discussion by keeping it on track, raising
new questions, answering old questions (and correcting any misinformation
or misunderstandings), and generally trying to keep people involved.
Summarize the main points that were raised.
Participating in on-line discussions
Your responses must be relevant to the material we discuss. It should also
be more than a simple "I agree" or a "look up" in the textbook. In other
words, put some thought into your postings! You must not make the same
exact response as someone else (in other words, read the discussion
postings before you write). It should also be timely (i.e. not posted a
week after the last posting or 8 postings at the end of the term). The
posting needs to be focused and well-written.
Be careful in what you write make sure humor is obvious and be more
conscientious about what you write. Make sure it is clear enough for
everyone to understand. Use comments from previous e-mails to help make
your points. Refer people to other pieces of information (where did YOU get
this material from?).
At 10:07 PM 1/16/2008 -0500, you wrote:
After attending a Participant Information Exchange on blogs and discussion
forums at NITOP, I'm inspired to try one out this semester.
I already have a blog for the class to which I post links to various news
articles (thanks to TIPS for many of them!), and I've made that my entry
page for Blackboard. I don't know if students read it, but at least it's
right in front of them every time they log in. Also, Blackboard has a
discussion forum that I invited students to use.
However, there wasn't much participation in the discussion forum. I think
the fact that no points were assigned made it less attractive.
The consensus at the PIE was that a lot of students who never spoke up in
class were very "vocal" online, and that's really my goal here. I'm
fortunate that class sizes are small enough (25) that most people who want
to speak up have the opportunity, but perhaps there are some reticent ones
who would like to share their thoughts and questions in another
format. My first question to you, then, is what methods have you used to
get things started?
One approach discussed at the NITOP PIE was to require one post per week
with four responses per semester. Other professors have posted questions
to which students had to respond. I'm more inclined toward the former
because, frankly, I don't want to grade the content of the posts (any more
than I would grade the answer of a student of whom I had asked a question
in class). Have you used something like either of these methods? If so,
would you mind sharing some of the particulars?
Looking forward to your replies,
Jeff
--
Jeffrey S. Bartel, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Psychology
Washington and Jefferson College
Dieter-Porter 306B
724.503.1001 x6228
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Deb
Dr. Deborah S. Briihl
Dept. of Psychology and Counseling
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA 31698
(229) 333-5994
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://chiron.valdosta.edu/dbriihl/
Well I know these voices must be my soul...
Rhyme and Reason - DMB
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