Flipping Your Online Discussions: Synchronous & Asynchronous

Methods

Carly Papenberg, M.A. Senior Associate Director, Instructional Design

Fox School of Business

How do you generate discussion in class (online or face-to-face)?

Have you used discussion boards?

How?

Agenda:

• Identify current uses of discussion and the discussion board

• Discuss questioning strategies

• Examine best practices for discussion and discussion boards

• Review example discussion questions for the discussion board

Goals of Discussion: Synchronous & Asynchronous

• Assess student comprehension

• Knowledge construction

• Reflection

• Student interaction

• Community creation

• Communication skills: verbal, written, presentation

What makes a good discussion question?

Effective or not effective, that is the Question!

• How do we know our questions are discussion worthy?

• Socratic Method: Open ended, probing, reciprocal (why, how, when, where, who)

• What do you mean?

• Can you give an example?

• Where did you get this idea?

• Critical Thinking: Application of concepts/ideas

• Multiple Perspectives: Interpretation and implementation of ideas to further comprehension

• Bloom’s Taxonomy: Consider what level of learning the question will fulfill

Critical Thinking Questions

• Require students go beyond the facts

• Encourage students to recognize assumptions, implications, and consequences• Generate more questions, rather than closing avenues of inquiry• Hold students responsible for their views and conclusions• Encourage students to interact critically with the content and each other

Trufant, 2003

Questioning Strategies

• Student Generated vs. Faculty Generated

• Students answer student created questions

• Faculty generate questions for students to reply

• Experiential vs. Application

• Small Group vs. Entire Class

• Reciprocal Questioning (peer-to-peer)

Example Question

Of the 5 management perspectives discussed in class, which would you apply to your personal management style?

Why?

How?

Best Practices for Discussion

• Identify goals and share with students• Design discussion for a specific period of time • Have students reflect upon the discussion and the outcomes• Create an open and collaborative environment• Example Discussion Techniques:

• Jigsaw

• Pair and Share

• Quotes

• Debate Topics

Best Practice for Discussion BoardsStructure:

• Length (word count)

• Replies (weekly number)

• Writing Expectations

• Timeframe

• Too long or too short – allow for proper reflection

Best Practice for Discussion Boards #2Moderation:

• Sum up discussion

• Comment on “best” or “key” ideas

• Define faculty “Presence”

Best Practice for Discussion Boards Assessment:

• Rubrics

• Feedback

• When

• How much

• Goal Clarity: Why this is important

Discussion Forum Rubric

Best Practice for Discussion Boards #3Groups:

• Generate random/assigned groups for interaction

• Small groups increase personal engagement

• Create an open and safe environment

Discussion Board Example

References:Eccarius, M. (2011). Rubric Development to Access Student Learning

Through Asynchronous Discussion Board. The Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 12(4), pp.265-268. Retrieved on March 5, 2015 from ProQuest Database.

MacKnight, C.B. (2000). Teaching Critical Thinking through Online Discussions. Educause Quarterly, 4, pp.38-41. Retrieved March 5, 2015 from Ebscohost Database.

Maddix, M.A. (2012). Generating and Facilitating Effective Online Learning Through Discussion. Christian Education Journal, 9(2), pp.372-385

Sautter, P. (2007). Designing Discussion Activities to Achieve Desired Learning Outcomes: Choices Using Mode of Delivery and Structure. Journal of Marketing Education, 29(2), pp.122-131. DOI: 10.1177/0273475307302014. Retrieved March 5, 2015 from ProQuest Database.

Strang, K.D. (2011). How can discussion forum questions be effective in online MBA courses? Campus-Wide Information Systems, 28(2), pp.80-92. Retrieved on March 5, 2015 from ProQuest Database.

Trufant, L.W. (2003). Move Over Socrates: Online Discussion is Here. Faculty Focus. Retrieved on January 14, 2015 from www.facutlyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/structuring-discussions-online-and-face-to-face/