Using discussion in a face-to-face classroom can
be different than facilitating a discussion online. However, both require
instruction, structure, innovation, guides, and examples.
Two types of online
discussions:
- Asynchronous
- designed for students to access at various times. Students
and teachers do not have to be online at the same time. Threaded
discussions are an example.
- Synchronous
- designed for “real
time.” Students and teachers are online at the same time,
responding simultaneously. Chat is an example.
Threaded discussions (Asynchronous)
Threaded discussions are simply electronic bulletin boards. Users post a message for
others to read at any time. The messages are available to be read as long as
the course is available. The distinguishing feature of a threaded discussion
is the threading function. Once a message is posted, other users can read it
and then reply to that message specifically.
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Typically, instructors require students to post
messages in discussions to fulfill participation requirements of the course.
Chats (Synchronous)
Here students and the teacher meet at the same time. Participants type a short
(one sentence) message and send it for all to see immediately. A chat room looks
like a text version of a conference call on the telephone. To organize the
chat:
- Specify a specific time period for the chat,
e.g. 20 minutes.
- Announce the topic for the chat beforehand.
- Consider a specified response format, e.g.
students responding in alphabetical order.
- To avoid confusion, require each student to
type the name of the person being addressed.
- Chats with more than 7 people will seem
crowded, so consider breaking the chats into smaller groups.
Next, click the Applications link
above
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