A Stitch in Virtual Time: Creative Threaded Discussions

Vivienne DacreGlyndŵr University

How do I Know That Our VLE is Promoting Student Learning?

The design and content of the module should balance both the web design and the principles of learning and teaching

Encourage feedback from students and let them know that you are open to developing the design

Look for examples and ideas for good practice

Forums with threaded discussions can facilitate and encourage collaboration and communication.

Key Principles for the Module Tutor

• Tutor response to postings needs to be prompt, always value contributions and respond constructively

• Starter questions need to be creative even controversial to prompt a response from the student group

• Be strategic in your response (same principle as face to face teaching)

• Monitor participation and offer support

• Know when the forum discussion has run its course

The Inside Story Example

One:

A forum used to engage students in the weeks on-line learning

Example Two:A Statement Worth Making

A statement worth making is one that is clear, succinct and important. It can be controversial, challenging or provocative, but it should represent the belief of the student who introduces it; and this belief should be developed from the students reading, experience and reflection.

A Statement Worth Making

Each statement should be of a single sentence only.In the subsequent on-line discussion the student has an opportunity to elaborate on and add detail to the statement.

Only the one statement is discussed in any one discussion thread.

A Statement Worth Making

The statement worth making is a statement of opinion rather than a statement of fact.

It is the students point of view, but one that can be supported with appropriate evidence.

A Statement Worth Making

Statements should be in the students own words, so they must avoid lifting quotations directly from a text/article/site.

Statements  must not form questions.

A Statement Worth Making

Examples from the student group:A. Children who are looked after are wrapped up in cotton

wool

B. Young people ‘act out’ because they can get away with it

C. All children in the Looked After System are by definition, traumatised.

D. Inherent in the role of RCW is the wielding of power

Example Three: The Only Way is Ethics

Focus: Ethical principles within a structured

debate

Purpose: To support critical analysis by

building persuasive and logically sequenced

writing which is clear, succinct and to the

point

Structure: Group divided into ‘agree’ and

‘disagree’. The tutor raises the ethical

dilemma. Each group begin with a statement

about why they agree/disagree and then take

turns to respond to each other by providing

the essence of their argument

The Only Way is Ethics

The Only Way is Ethics

Example:

‘Those in prison serving a

custodial sentence should

not be given the vote’.

The Only Way is Ethics

For Example:‘Those in prison serving custodial sentences should not be given the vote’

Student A:“I agree with this statement in principle because I think that society has the right to say that when you commit a crime, serious enough to be sent to prison you lose your freedom, and with that you lose some of your privileges of which voting is one. In addition of all the issues prisoners care about, this is probably somewhere on the bottom of the list. There are higher priorities regarding prisoner rights which should be focused on. Voting rights is in my opinion a red herring that takes us away from the real issues around prevention and rehabilitation”.

For Example:‘Those in prison serving custodial sentences should not be given the vote’

Student B: ‘I disagree with this statement in principle because social responsibility is something you would want to encourage among prisoners. Voting is not a privilege, it is a right, and actually I think it is a responsibility. I would agree prisoners would not put it at the top of the list of things they want. But voting wouldn’t be top of the list if you stopped 100 people in the street and said, ‘What makes a difference to you?’ It’s still an important civic responsibility. In some ways, voting is even more important if you’ve lost your freedom, because we want to reintegrate people, we want them to see themselves as citizens, even if they’re in prison.

Any questions?