1. 2012 Boise State University 1 Two Posts & Three Replies a Week:Two Posts & Three Replies a Week: Thinking Differently About Threaded DiscussionsThinking Differently About Threaded Discussions Patrick R. Lowenthal www.patricklowenthal.com patricklowenthal@boisestate.edu Twitter: @plowenthal

2. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 2 We are recording 3. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 3 4. Finish this Sentence Online discussions are TeachersTeachers Non-traditionalNon-traditional StudentsStudentsStudentsStudents 5. Finish this Sentence Online discussions are TeachersTeachers Non-traditionalNon-traditional StudentsStudentsStudentsStudents 6. Finish this Sentence Online discussions are TeachersTeachers Non-traditionalNon-traditional StudentsStudentsStudentsStudents 7. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 7 Typically 1-2 Discussions Every Week1-2 Discussions Every Week Large (entire class) DiscussionsLarge (entire class) Discussions (Most) Discussions are based on Textbooks(Most) Discussions are based on Textbooks Post 1 original post; reply to 2-3 peersPost 1 original post; reply to 2-3 peers 8. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 8 My Struggles Why do we have online discussions? 9. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 9 My Struggles Why asynchronous? Why every week? Why grade them? What does the literature say? And more importantly, what do my peers think??? 10. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 10 11. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 11 Lets Brainstorm with a peer 12. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 12 Directions 1st1st Get in small groups 2nd2nd Talk about your experience using threaded discussions. What works well? What doesnt work well? 3rd3rd Share 1-2 best practices Got a device? Add best practices to this Google Doc http://tinyurl.com/CTL-discussions Tip! Chrome works better on mobile devices & Google likes you to sign in 13. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 13 14. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 14 Top 10 Themes 1. Offer students choice 2. Prior experience matters 3. Class size influences what works 4. Require students to take part 5. Mix in synchronous sessions 6. Set expectations / provide clear guidelines 7. Strategies and discussion questions matter 8. Provide timely (and multiple types) of feedback 9. Instructor plays a key role 10.Students can feel isolated 15. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 15 Top 10 Themes 1. Offer students choice 2. Prior experience matters 3. Class size influences what works 4. Require students to take part 5. Mix in synchronous sessions 6. Set expectations / provide clear guidelines 7. Strategies and discussion questions matter 8. Provide timely (and multiple types) of feedback 9. Instructor plays a key role 10.Students can feel isolated 16. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 16 Top 10 Themes 1. Offer students choice 2. Prior experience matters 3. Class size influences what works 4. Require students to take part 5. Mix in synchronous sessions 6. Set expectations / provide clear guidelines 7. Strategies and discussion questions matter 8. Provide timely (and multiple types) of feedback 9. Instructor plays a key role 10.Students can feel isolated 17. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 17 Top 10 Themes 1. Offer students choice 2. Prior experience matters 3. Class size influences what works 4. Require students to take part 5. Mix in synchronous sessions 6. Set expectations / provide clear guidelines 7. Strategies and discussion questions matter 8. Provide timely (and multiple types) of feedback 9. Instructor plays a key role 10.Students can feel isolated 18. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 18 Top 10 Themes 1. Offer students choice 2. Prior experience matters 3. Class size influences what works 4. Require students to take part 5. Mix in synchronous sessions 6. Set expectations / provide clear guidelines 7. Strategies and discussion questions matter 8. Provide timely (and multiple types) of feedback 9. Instructor plays a key role 10.Students can feel isolated 19. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 19 Top 10 Themes 1. Offer students choice 2. Prior experience matters 3. Class size influences what works 4. Require students to take part 5. Mix in synchronous sessions 6. Set expectations / provide clear guidelines 7. Strategies and discussion questions matter 8. Provide timely (and multiple types) of feedback 9. Instructor plays a key role 10.Students can feel isolated 20. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 20 Top 10 Themes 1. Offer students choice 2. Prior experience matters 3. Class size influences what works 4. Require students to take part 5. Mix in synchronous sessions 6. Set expectations / provide clear guidelines 7. Strategies and discussion questions matter 8. Provide timely (and multiple types) of feedback 9. Instructor plays a key role 10.Students can feel isolated 21. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 21 Top 10 Themes 1. Offer students choice 2. Prior experience matters 3. Class size influences what works 4. Require students to take part 5. Mix in synchronous sessions 6. Set expectations / provide clear guidelines 7. Strategies and discussion questions matter 8. Provide timely (and multiple types) of feedback 9. Instructor plays a key role 10.Students can feel isolated 22. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 22 Top 10 Themes 1. Offer students choice 2. Prior experience matters 3. Class size influences what works 4. Require students to take part 5. Mix in synchronous sessions 6. Set expectations / provide clear guidelines 7. Strategies and discussion questions matter 8. Provide timely (and multiple types) of feedback 9. Instructor plays a key role 10.Students can feel isolated 23. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 23 Top 10 Themes 1. Offer students choice 2. Prior experience matters 3. Class size influences what works 4. Require students to take part 5. Mix in synchronous sessions 6. Set expectations / provide clear guidelines 7. Strategies and discussion questions matter 8. Provide timely (and multiple types) of feedback 9. Instructor plays a key role 10.Students can feel isolated 24. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 24 25. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 25 Social Presence One-to-one communication matters Low tech strategies can help Past/future relationships matter Group projects can help Small groups 26. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 26 Protocols The Final Post The Last Post Posting the Crux of the Matter Designated Readers Rotating Threads Snowballing Threads Jigsaw Threads 27. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 27 Rotating Threads 1. Set up threaded discussion forums, with a different provocative issue to discuss in each forum. 2. In groups of 4 5, have students rotate to a new forum. In terms of timing, you could have each group spend one day in a forum e.g., Forum A on Monday, Forum B on Tuesday, and so on. 3. Have each group record their ideas about the issue in the forum. 4. Once groups have rotated to each forum, give students time to revisit all of the forums to see what other groups posted. 5. As a final activity, have students summarize what they have learned about the issues. 28. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 28 Death to the Dropbox 29. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 29 When Assessing Discussions Ungraded Graded Quantity Quality Checklist Rubric Individual Group Student Teacher 30. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 30 Karma Points 31. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 31 32. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 32 Down & Dirty Guidelines 33. Slides @ patricklowenthal.com 33 Resources Online Learning Idea Books CU Online Handbooks