creating online engagement with discussion forums€¦ · creating online engagement with ....

Creating Online Engagement

with Discussion Forums ❖ Participant microphones are muted.

Engage and ask questions in the CHAT throughout this webinar.

❖ Rename your Zoom ID to your preferred name; feel free to add your pronouns and department.

❖ This presentation is being recorded.

A webinar brought to you Distance and Online Education and The Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology

Creating Online Engagement

with Discussion Forums A webinar brought to you Distance and Online Education

and The Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology © The University of Iowa, 2020

IN THIS WEBINAR WE WILL: ● Define Engagement ● Identify key components of an

effective asynchronous online discussion online

● Demonstrate how to create and assess a discussion forum on ICON

Creating Online Engagement with Discussion Forums

Engagement in online learning environments

Engagement: ability to hold the attention of an individual to actively participate in some sort of activity

The GOAL ● Promote interaction with

content, peers, and the instructor

● Build a community of learners ● Reduce feelings of isolation


“...student engagement refers to the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that students show when they are learning or being taught, which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their education.”


Forms of Engagement

● Activities

● Content

● Interaction


Online Discussion Forums: Uses

● Space for Collaboration and Sharing

● Student Introductions

● Create an FAQ forum

● Reflecting in complex issues Creating Online Engagement with Discussion Forums

Asynchronous

Online Discussions

POLL: What is your level of experience with asynchronous online discussions?


An Effective Discussion Activity

Effective Online Discussions: Key Components

Clear instructions and context

A prompt that promotes critical thinking

Meaningful student-to-student interaction

Post submission deadlines (2)

Incorporate an experience


Prompting Learning

Use the worksheet to follow along!

Step 1: Revisit Your Learning Objectives

Sample Learning Objective: Compare and contrast your personal definition of family with that of sociologists


Step 2: Initial Prompt Idea

How would you describe a

traditional American family?


Step 3: Ask Yourself These 3 Questions...

1) Is my prompt promoting critical thinking?

How would you describe a traditional American family? Compare and contrast your definition with that provided in the our text.



2) Would incorporating an experience deepen student learning? ?

Watch a TV show or movie (identify culture and decade) and compare the family structure presented with your own understanding of family.



3) Have you crafted meaningful student-to-student interaction?

Are you surprised by any of the similarities/differences between your definitions? Explain why. *Students will reply to at least two other students


Final Product

Final Thoughts ● Use the handouts and resources

provided to guide your process ● Consider using media and

readings to create a baseline for discussions

● Divide class into small discussion groups (3-5 is ideal)

● Define consistent submission dates for initial and follow-up posts.Creating Online Engagement with Discussion Forums

Discussion Forums on ICON

Create a Discussion Forum ● Add forum to the

correct Module

● Select Discussion.

● Click New Topic.

● Type your Topic Name.

● Click Add Item.


Edit Discussion Forum ● Select discussion and click Edit

● Add directions

● Adjust Options ● Allow Threaded Replies

● Graded

● Group Discussion (optional)

● Set due dates

● Save or Save & Publish


https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-26335-how-do-i-add-a-group-set-in-a-course

Add a rubric ● Click three dots at top of

discussion. Select Rubric.

● Add Title

● Add Criteria

● Select “Use this rubric for assignment grading.”

● Create Rubric.


Grade in SpeedGrader ● Click three dots at top of

discussion. Select SpeedGrader.

● Responses and posts organized by student.

● Can use rubric to grade.

● Can add private comments here.


Next Steps & Takeaways

Where do I begin? ❖ Revisit your syllabus and determine if adding

online discussions to your course will help support your learning objectives.

❖ Determine frequency of use

❖ Use the handouts provided to plan your online discussions

❖ Create Discussion Forums on ICON


Thank you for attending!

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