Boost Engagement: Include Academic Content In Your Online Discussions by Fred Feldon January 2015
Jul 15, 2015
Boost Engagement:
Include Academic Content In Your Online
Discussions
byFred Feldon
January 2015
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Why are Discussion Boards so important?
Why bother?
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Discussion should be “the heart” of an
online (or face-to-face) class!
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Keeps students engaged
One Week of a Student’s Electrodermal Activity (EDA)
Poh, Swenson & Picard, 2010 http://affect.media.mit.edu/pdfs/10.Poh-etal-TBME-EDA-tests.pdf
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Students take an activerole in their learning, which
increases success and retention
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Anonymity and forethought encourages participation
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Builds skills in communicating mathematically
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
“There must be far less telling on the part of the
teacher, and far more doing on the part of the student.” Jean Piaget
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Creates a sense of community
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Duplicates the interaction that normally takes place in a classroom
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Builds technical skills
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Prepares students for “real life”
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
So, let’s get to it!
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
• Use a scanner to capture yourhandwriting
• Use your Cell Phone to take a picture• Use the Print Screen button• Use the Symbols pull-down menu• Use the Insert Media button• Use the Equation Editor
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
• Use a scanner to capture yourhandwriting
• Use your Cell Phone to take a picture• Use the Print Screen button• Use the Symbols pull-down menu• Use the Insert Media button• Use the Equation Editor
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
• Use a scanner to capture yourhandwriting
• Use your Cell Phone to take a picture• Use the Print Screen button• Use the Symbols pull-down menu• Use the Insert Media button• Use the Equation Editor
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
• Use a scanner to capture yourhandwriting
• Use your Cell Phone to take a picture• Use the Print Screen button• Use the Symbols pull-down menu• Use the Insert Media button• Use the Equation Editor
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards“Insert Symbol”
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
• Use a scanner to capture yourhandwriting
• Use your Cell Phone to take a picture• Use the Print Screen button• Use the Symbols pull-down menu• Use the Insert Media button• Use the Equation Editor
Screen Capture
Software
Screen Capture
Software
http://www.techsmith.com/jing
Add “Embed HTML” Button to Jing
Add “Embed HTML” Button to Jing
Add “Embed HTML” Button to Jing
Add “Embed HTML” Button to Jing
Add “Embed HTML” Button to Jing
Add “Embed HTML” Button
to Jing
Add “Embed HTML” Button
to Jing
Add “Embed HTML” Button
to Jing
Capturing the
Embed Code
Capturing the
Embed Code
Capturing the
Embed Code
Capturing the
Embed Code
Capturing the
Embed Code
Pasting the Embed Code
Pasting the Embed Code(New Design 2012+)
Pasting the Embed Code
Pasting the Embed Code
Warning: Your screen may look different if Pearson updates the Discussion Board program…
“Insert Media”
Pasting the Embed Code
Pasting the Embed Code
Pasting the Embed Code
Pasting the Embed Code
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
• Use a scanner to capture yourhandwriting
• Use your Cell Phone to take a picture• Use the Print Screen button• Use the Symbols pull-down menu• Use the Insert Media button• Use the Equation Editor
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards“Math Equation Editor”
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards“Math Equation Editor”
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
..
A picture’s worth a
thousandwords!
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
• Use a scanner to capture yourhandwriting
• Use your Cell Phone to take a picture• Use the Print Screen button• Use the Symbols pull-down menu• Use the Insert Media button• Use the Equation Editor
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Closing thoughts (for professors)…
• Create a warm and welcoming atmosphere that integrates studentssocially and academically into the course
• Allow enough wait time to ensure peer interaction and student self-discovery
• Avoid omniscient overbearing or evaluative posts that inhibit futureparticipation
• Start a new conversation when one is stale or there’s a period of silence(Add a relevant link to a current event, for example, post a funny comicor an extra credit puzzle or problem)
• Model the behavior you are trying to elicit from students• If the discussion board is boring for you, it will definitely be boring for
your students!• Sustained interaction becomes a rich environment for critical thinking to
flourish
Academic Content in
Discussion BoardsClosing thoughts (for students)…
• Check the discussion board every time you log on to the course website; itshould be the first thing you do, the first place you go, before you doanything else
• Read every new message before you post one; your question may havealready been asked and answered
• Learn how to get your academic content (your solution to a problem, forexample, or a question from the online homework) on the screen withthe print screen button, screen capture software, a webcam, a camera, yourcell phone camera, a printer/scanner, etc.
• Learn how to add arrows, boxes, text, highlighting, etc. to your image• There is no “silly question.” What’s silly is not asking a question. The professor
and your fellow students will all appreciate it and learn something from it, guaranteed!
• If someone answers your question be sure to thank them then “close theloop” by saying you got it or ask for more help if you need it and continue the discussion
Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Closing thought (for everyone)…
Discussion forum dialogue has the potential to be the most valuable learning opportunity in the online
environment!
Thank You
This presentation is available to download at
http://www.slideshare.net/ffeldon