Edward Armstrong

Discussion Comment

I was thinking that this particular tool would be quite effective in providing feedback on Individual Projects but I'm really uncertain as to how this should be set up. It's seems to me that it's better than the tool that has been provided as part of the"turn it in" program. Has anyone tried using this? I don't know that it's practical to have each student submit a draft ahead of time - this would be awfully time consuming for both students and instructor.

Edward Armstrong

Discussion Comment

Distracting students

@ellythomas :I usually contact the "disruptive" members individually by email and just make some "quiet" suggestions. If the issues continue, I ask the student to call me and then chat privately on the phone. This usually works with no problem.

Edward Armstrong

Discussion Comment

Stimulating Discussion

I find that in the course of monitoring discussions on a discussion board or forum it often helps to insert a problem or dilemma involving a concept being discussed. The problems or "dilemmas" that I insert usually involve a situation that I have been personally involved in. I give the facts and simply ask members of the group to suggest their own solutions or analysis. I also encourage students to use involvement in such relevant situations as the ideal way to demonstrate how such a problem or dilemma might be solved. This type of technique gives the person providing it… >>>

Edward Armstrong

Discussion Comment

Generational Information

One thing I found extremely important in this segment of the course is the need to identify generational information. Part of the problem here is that an instructor may assume everyone in the class approaches the subject matter in the same way as he or she might. Simply examining information available about students in the class will allow an instructor to tailor his or her facilitation to each generation represented in the class. I found it extremely important to realize that each generation has social skills that are different from members of another generation and this realization can definitely improve… >>>

Edward Armstrong

Discussion Comment

Moving the Discussion Forward

Communications on discussion boards broaden the experience and knowledge of both students and instructor. An excellent way of doing this is for the person communicating to share a personal experience (if possible) demonstrating how a particular concept that is presented in the discussion board topic. When others see a concept "in action" it makes what may be very conceptual very real.

Edward Armstrong

Discussion Comment

Facebook

While Facebook is a popular social forum I personally don't like this medium. Regardless of what Facebook says about privacy issues - don't believe them. Too often material which is meant to remain private or restrictive becomes public or quasi-public. It is an overrated medium and everyone should be very cautious about using it.

Edward Armstrong

Discussion Comment

Course Content

One of the things that I find very effective both from the perspective of the instructor and the perspective of the student is personal experience. When discussing a concept in either synchronous or asynchronous contexts, the instructor can introduce situations in which he or she has been personally involved (from a professional standpoint). Students participating in either type of discussion can also share experiences with a particular concept. Both of these additions to the discussion help underscore the essence of concept introduced in that part of the course.

Edward Armstrong

Discussion Comment

Guidance and Positive Reinforcement

I think it's extremely important that the online instructor lead the student in the direction of obtaining as much information about the subject by self-exploration. When the student displays what he or she has found, either on a discussion board or in a written project, it's important to communicate to the student the positive aspects of what he or she has discovered and distinguish those items that are important from those that are either of lesser importance or irrelevant.

Edward Armstrong

Discussion Comment

Accessibility and Positive Assertions of Success

I think it's important that students, from the very outset, understand that success in the course will be achieved by acquiring as much information as possible and, to that end, the instructor will be available to reinforce that ideal and be "quickly" reachable to answer questions, offer explanations and encouragement.