I have discussions in my online classes for this (do it in some of my face-to-face classes, also). Depending on the class, I either assign specific concepts or allow students to pick from a list. The students are mandated to describe the phenomenon and describe a life experience (which can be from something they see in TV, movie or novel) and specifically indicate how their understanding of the phenomenon was enhanced by witnessing it in life or how their understanding of the life situation was altered or enhanced by knowing the phenomenon. A few do excellently at this task. Most do adequately. A few don't seem to get it and think it is about 'telling stories about their life'. I often post an example of my own to help them to see what the goal is.
I use Schoology for the discussions because I find Blackboard to be very poor in managing discussions. Schoology has a Facebook-like appearance that eases student's acceptance of it as a forum and makes it easy to see and evaluate everyone's work. Paul On May 17, 2013, at 7:48 AM, Julie Osland wrote: Dear Tipsters, Having just finished final exams and grading, I’m faced with having to teach General Psychology Online in a week, and I need help. I’ve been wracking my brain and searching instructor resource guides, activity handbooks, and etc. looking for an activity that will encourage students to make connections between what they are learning in the various chapters/topics in the course and their everyday life. And by everyday life I was thinking it could be something the students experienced personally, saw on the news, a TV show/movie, heard in a song, read about in a book, etc. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Julie "worried in WV" Osland -- Dr. Julie A. Osland, M.A., Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology Wheeling Jesuit University 316 Washington Avenue Wheeling, WV 26003 Office: (304) 243-2329 e-mail: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13441.4e79e96ebb5671bdb50111f18f263003&n=T&l=tips&o=25574 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-25574-13441.4e79e96ebb5671bdb50111f18f263...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-25574-13441.4e79e96ebb5671bdb50111f18f263...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=25577 or send a blank email to leave-25577-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
