Wikis, Blogs, Forums, Journals: Which One Do I Use & Why?
Connie Weber, Senior ManagerBlackboard [email protected]
Connie Weber • Senior Manager, Blackboard Training (10 years)
Education:
• Florida State University, University of Kentucky
Blackboard Experience:
• Distance Learning Coordinator – Guilford Technical Community College (Greensboro, NC) – 5 years
• Associate Professor of English – Introduction to Literature, Professional Writing, Expository Writing, Argument-based Research• Online Course Developer – North Carolina Community College System
Great Online Course= Great Dinner Party
1. Create a Pleasant Atmosphere
Create a Pleasant Atmosphere
http://Cooltext.com
•Creative Text Only•Very Quick and low tech•Upload as Banner
Course Banner
Course Menu• Use Dividers to Arrange
Menu• Group Menu Items by
Type• Put Most Frequently
Accessed on Top
Consistent Navigation
2. Create Your Guests Warmly
Make Your Students Feel Welcome
“In the host role, online instructors draw students into the experience of online learning and respond to student needs and concerns with a patient, welcoming, attentive attitude.”
Reference: “Five Roles I Play in Online Courses,” Scot Headley
2. Make Your Students Feel Welcome
What are some ways to make students feel welcome to a course?
1.2.3.
Welcome Letter
Getting Started Information
• Orientation Activity (Lesson Zero)– IceBreaker
15
Welcome Discussion
Using your name as an acronym, describe yourself as a learner. For example: CONNIE
C - creativeO - openN – not likely to give upN – nearly always on timeI - independentE - engaged
Student Blog
Learner Support
• Course Communication Strategy (or How This Course Works)
• Help and Instructor Information
3. Connect Your Guest to Each Other
Discussion ForumSuggested Use Examples Application
• Ideas• Feedback• Opinions
• Projects• Initial Thoughts• Brainstorming• Debates• Role Play• Peer Review
• Threaded Discussion• Multiple Responses
Sample Discussion
Type of Questions
BlogSuggested Use Examples Application
• Interpretation• Showcase• Rich Media
• Case Study• Final Draft• Analysis• Commentary
• Individual or Course Comments but not Threads
Sample Blogs
WikiSuggested Use Examples
• Students create TOGETHER• Everyone may edit
• Class summaries and outlines
• Course Glossary• Resource Repository• Group Projects• Research Notebooks• Lab Experiments• Class Book
Sample Wiki
Wikis
4. Serve a Variety of Food
4. Provide a Variety of Learning Activities
JournalSuggested Use Examples
• Students express thoughts, questions, and concerns PRIVATELY to you
• Record observations• Question the content• Identify areas for help• Develop plan for
improvement• Evaluate progress• Submit prewriting for
feedback
Journal Prompts
5. Present the Food in Creative Ways
Present the Content in Creative Ways
Active Learning
Atmosphere
Welcome
ConnectionVariety
Presentation
Which Tool?Forums Blogs Wikis Journals
• Interactive• Question/
Response
• Showcase• Rich Media
• Collaborative• Everybody Edits
• Student/Teacher• Reflective• Feedback
Getting Started with Blackboard Learn Interactive Tools
Getting Started with Journal Prompts
ResourcesHow Many Discussion Posts Each Week, A Simply Delicious Answer• http
://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/online-education/how-many-faculty-discussion-posts-each-week-a-simply-delicious-answer/
Cheryl Hayek, Grantham University, Online Education, January 18, 2012
Five Roles I play in Online Classeshttp://www.sevenstaracademy.org/downloads/Resources/Five%20roles.pdfScot Headley, Innovate: Journal of Online Education, v2 n1 Oct-Nov 2005
Mastering Online Discussion Board Facilitation Resource Guide, TeacherStream, LLC, 2009http://
www.edutopia.org/pdfs/stw/edutopia-onlinelearning-mastering-online-discussion-board-facilitation.pdf
Some elements come from the On Demand Learning Center documents "Getting Started with Interactive Tools" and "Getting Started with Journal Prompts." These documents were inspired by the Blackboard Innovative Teaching Series delivered by Deborah Pickett from Jacksonville State University, as well as user feedback. Original Presentation
Tips and Tricks
• Writing Discussion Questions University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh
• CREST + Model for Writing Effective Discussion Questions
• Tips for Designing Assignments (Blogs, Journals)