Bringing it all together

Summaries or Weaves?

What is a summary?

It´s a way to • record what was

discussed, so that participants can look back quickly to check what was

said without having to read every post . This is invaluable for anyone

who was absent for some time (Steph, Sue)

• bring closure to the discussion (Alison)

• spotlight the main points of discussion (Harshini)

What is a weave?

It´s a way to • Take similar ideas that have

been mentioned, if they are relevant for discussion

(Paul)• Show similar salient points

addressed by participants (Alison), commenting on some of them and using

questions to steer CPs in a certain direction (Sue)

• Identify themes in the posts and rearrange them

according to emerging categories related to the

initial questions

Some insights about Summarizing & Weaving

• You summarise when you feel the discussion’s run out of steam. Contributions are drying up so you feel that most people have

said what they wanted to say. On the other hand, if you feel the discussion didn’t address some important learning points you might decide to weave earlier threads which touched on these

and add some more questions . (Steph)• A weave would promote further participation, which could be

seen as an advantage or disadvange as it would extend the thread (Paul)

• Go easy with the additional questions you raise, as they may make it harder to see what was initially intended (Brett).

• Adding participants´names acknowledge contributors and will boost confidence (Alison). However, it is only fair mentioning

names when they make a good point (Rachida).• Summaries should cover the main aims of the discussion

(Alison).• Point participants to summaries, as they may hide in a previous

week´s work (Erica)

PurposesSummary

Usually signals a wrap up to a discussion

• To regain interest, and draw attention

to the issue. • To provide CPs with

an integrated view of what has been

said.

WeavingUsed to connect themes and

steer the discussion

• To provide new fresh starting points after a

number of posts.• To

revive/promote/refocus the discussion

• To encourage CPs to reflect more on the issues

to be further explored Both are used to organize ideas, identify the most essential information, select topics from the discussion, synthetize and

connect them with other concepts

How to do it?• Do not rely on your memory

• Go over the discussion history carefully and take notes, clarify expressions, identify themes, make connections, index the

material.• Think about what information should be selected (considering

initial questions); how this would help the reader see what has been discussed so far; include emerging ideas that add to a

whole view of the topic.• Connect ideas from CPs with initial questions and

theory/content• The moderator could choose to quote CPs contributions or not.

• They can be presented in different ways

• Tip:This can be done copying/pasting the discussion in a Word document and indexing the material using a coding (color,

numbers, notes)

Risks implied• CPs could become summary-dependant

(Rachida).• A discussion might be summarised before

everyone has had the chance to contribute (Sue)

• Misinterpreting CPs´contributions (Sue, Rozitah)• Unforeseen /emerging points might be missed

out if the moderator only considers the initial questions (Sue) and may lead to an incomplete

summary (Rozitah).• While additional questions in weaves could

promote further participation, they could also extend the thread (Paul).

When should they be done?

Summary

At the end of a discussion

Weave

After 6-7 posts, but it largely depends on

• the dynamics of the group

• What (and how much) has been said

• The amount of time allotted

Relevance• Any participant can take summarizing/weaving roles. These

roles could be assigned or spontaneous.• The e-moderator can encourage CPs to take on these roles so

take on this challenge and assume ownership of their learning.• It might be appropriate for CPs to do it as a way of checking

that they have read the threads and undestood the main points of what has been said. This could help the moderator

see what input CPs still need (Sue).• When done, either by the e-moderator or the participant, they

bring new dynamics to the thread, giving the CPs reasons to join the discussion

• Moderators are consciously weaving and summarizing when they feel it it necessary to guide and shape the discussion; but

aren't the CPs summarizing and weaving too, maybe on a more unconscious level? (Fiona)

Additional questions added to weaves or summaries can become ’rather like fabric threads when they become frayed, making it harder

to see what was intended in the tapestry’.

Brett