Discussion Forums: The Extinction of Public Speaking

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 Erlbaum Associates. New Jersey.