| Conference Registration WebCT Homepage | |
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| Thursday, July 13, 2006: 2:30 PM-3:45 PM | |||
| Sheraton Ballroom III (Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers) | |||
| J-14: Using the Discussions Tool: Course Design, Pedagogy, and Assessment | |||
| Detailed Description: | While the integration of online discussions offers the obvious opportunity for student interaction, when integrated effectively online discussions can also enhance course content and improve student learning. Join us to see a variety of methods for designing online discussion assignments, improving strategies to increase student participation, and developing effective assessments. Panel members will share successes and lessons learned. | ||
| Presentation Format: | Panel | ||
| Topic: | Enabling learning: Effective instructional practices and student support models | ||
| Target Audience: | Course Designers, Faculty and Other Instructors | ||
| Appropriate Audience Level: | Beginning or new users of WebCT, Experienced WebCT users | ||
| Abstract Text: | While the integration of online discussions offers the opportunity for student interaction, when integrated effectively online discussions can also enhance course content and improve student learning. Research shows that simply including a discussion tool in an online course is not enough. Requiring student use of the tool is a step in the right direction, but more can be done. The most effective online discussions are based on clearly devised assignments that provide a purpose, such as an issue to debate or a group task to accomplish. In addition to providing assignments with a clear purpose, the level of interaction from students can be greatly enhanced by effective facilitation strategies and defining expectations that relate to how students will be evaluated. Strategies such as providing prompts, including examples of appropriate/inappropriate replies, facilitating discussions through appropriate modeling of expectations, and including checklists or rubrics for evaluation can be used to improve the quality and quantity of student interaction. During this session panel members, who have extensive experience with course development and instruction (using Campus Edition and VISTA), will share a variety of methods for integrating online discussions. Topics related to course design, pedagogical strategies, and assessment will be shared. | ||
| Session Leader: | Lisa A. Heaton Marshall University Graduate College | ||
| Co-presenters: | Nega Debela Marshall University Donna Spindel Marshall University Rudy Pauley Marshall University Graduate College Timothy E. Wiblin Ohio Valley University | ||
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