Module 3 Synthesis
EDUC300 by Ilicia Kelly
This
module, I learned many things about becoming an online teacher and the useful
application of discussion forums. "Those researching collaborative forums
argue that these opportunities increase negotiation, reflection, and knowledge
building. Many argue that scientific research proceeds through a process of
argumentation" (O'Donnell, Hmelo-Silver & Erkens, 2006). In chapter 4,
we learn about discussion forums and helpful ideas in building productive
discussion forum topics that illicit useful conversations that stimulate higher
learning. One of these ideas are called
"anchored instruction" where you "can focus students' efforts on
sense making and knowledge building within a compelling, complex context where multiple explanations and ideas can be
explored" (O'Donnell, Hmelo-Silver & Erkens, 2006). Anchored
instructions can help guide the path of the discussion without limiting the
responses, which can encourage higher order thinking without restricting the
student's imagination. I like discussions like that because it's easy to let
the flow of the writing begin and allows the student to incorporate the
learning from that section in any way they choose, without being penalized.
In the
reading "Learning Presence", the concept
"epistemic-engagement" is described as learner commitment to active
group knowledge building. "In this view the potential for online learning
reflects processes of participatory practice, with designs that gradually assist
learners to develop the language and skills of a disciplinary discourse
community" (Learning
Presence). How can we create epistemic engagement in an online learning
class? One of the ways we can do this is through discussion forums. To get the
class actively involved in each other is through interactions in a discussion
forum. According to the reading "Benefits
of Using Discussion Boards in Your Classes", discussion boards are
reflective in nature. "They force students to read other perspectives and
carefully consider a response." Discussion boards are a great learning
tool for students who have social anxiety. Discussion boards also force
students to use research from the class to support findings which creates more
active learning for the students.
Adrianne
Poucher states that 'the question itself must then stimulate critical thinking
and ease the flow of the discussion' and 'personal experiences contribute
greatly to facilitating discussion' (Poucher). I agree with Adrianne because
I've always felt more of a connection to any material that I learn if I
incorporate it into my life and apply it to create more critical thinking and
higher order learning. According to the reading "Benefits
of Using Discussion Boards in Your Classes", discussion boards are
reflective in nature. "They force students to read other perspectives and
carefully consider a response." Discussion boards are a great learning
tool for students who have social anxiety. Discussion boards also force
students to use research from the class to support findings which creates more
active learning for the students.
How will
theory inform your facilitation of online discussions? According to the reading
"A Model for Designing Instructional Narratives for Adult Learners:
Connecting the Dots" by Debra Smith, "shared story telling was a
useful vehicle for collective centering and for confirming a collective sense
in an organizational setting". Creating a topic based on the topic for the
week, coupled with each student integrating that information into their own
personal experiences and then sharing it with the class is shown to create more
active learning and helps students feel more invested in the information and in
each other which will facilitate more discussions.
Antonia feels that we are placing
too much emphasis on technology and becoming too dependent which is limiting
human interaction. Like Antonia, I find American's dependence on
technology very unsettling. While it has made our society more advanced and
allowed us to do amazing things, it also limits human interaction and isolates
us at the same time. In an article, Technology
Imposes Social Isolation, it discusses how technology and social media may
have opened us up to access to infinite information and people across the
globe, but it has impeded our ability to develop social skills that are needed
in life. "The presence of media sites such as Facebook and Twitter has had
a negative influence on children and teenagers because of society’s increased
reliance on these services as central forums of social interaction. Instead of
cultivating the ability to interact with others in person, the shift to social
media has led to the underdevelopment of these skills which are essential to
living a successful and prosperous lifestyle" (Puget
Sound Trial). There is nothing more obnoxious than sitting out to lunch
with a friend and they sit on their phone checking facebook. I can't stand
watching families out to eat and they all sit on their own iPad and don't talk
to each other. What is happening to us? What is happening to playing outside,
and talking about our day at dinner? Are we losing our abilities to communicate
organically?
What are best practices in
facilitating discussions? Using open ended questions in the discussion forum
will help facilitate discussions. Critical thinking is encouraged in open ended
questions and will allow the students to take the assignment in their own
direction, which will also allow for more interesting involvement in the
classmates when they reply to the assignments. In the reading "a
guide to authentic e-learning", the use of authentic e-learning in
higher education has the capacity to reinvigorate online courses through the
use of new participatory learning technologies, not only for delivery, but as a
powerful cognitive tool and publication platform. It has the potential to renew
individual teacher's enthusiasm for their online teaching by challenging them
to create innovative and complex tasks that are so carefully crafter, they have
the ability to facilitate student learning across a whole semester or a large
part of it."
How can
connectivity inform our practice in online discussions? In the video,
'what bad teachers do in distance education', one of the things bad teachers
can do is not provide personalized feedback, or be unavailable. The speaker
states how important it is for online students to feel connected to the
instructor. In discussion forums, it's important for the students to have a
structured response rubric, be aware of the need to be respectful in responses,
and to support statements with research. All of these things will create
connectivity to each other and facilitate healthy discussions and more active
learning.
Self Assessment- 100- I completed the rubric and used
appropriate citations.
References:
O'Donnell, A.,
Hmelo-Silver, C., Erkens, G. (2006). Collaborative Learning, Reasoning, and
Technology. Lawrence New Jersey
