For Blended Learning 5, there are many ways to promote online discussions. When participating in asynchronous instruction, online discussions are an important tool for students, however they can be difficult to implement - especially for younger learners.
One way to promote online discussion is to utilize online discussion boards. Discussion boards allow students to articulate and share their ideas, while also responding to the ideas of their classmates. Discussion boards give students the opportunity to be engaged with their classmates, even if they are not learning in the same physical space. In order for discussion boards to be successful, clear expectations for participation should be set at the onset of the course. (https://www.ctl.upenn.edu/using-online-tools-discussion)
Another way to promote online discussion is to make sure that questions are effective. Effective questions that are developed through questioning techniques allow for deeper thinking on the students part. Open-ended questions that seek out evidence, ask students to explain, relate concepts and ideas, ask to students to predict, or ask students to describe give students the opportunity to become more engaged in the discussion (https://www.edutopia.org/blog/new-classroom-questioning-techniques-todd-finley). Questions posed to the class should also be clear and concise in order to avoid any confusion. Teachers should also encourage their students to engage with one another's posts. One way to do this is to lead by example; the teacher should also be engaging in all student posts. (https://www.ctl.upenn.edu/using-online-tools-discussion)
A third way to promote online discussion is to create discussion breakout rooms. This allows students to participate in collaborative learning within a small group, even when not learning in a traditional classroom setting. Time limits can be set while students are working in the breakout rooms, and teachers also have the ability to go in and out of breakout rooms at their discretion to monitor student participation. Teachers can also pose poll questions to their students in both breakout rooms and the main chat room to encourage student participation (https://www.teacheracademy.eu/blog/online-discussion-tools/).
There are multiple tools available to teachers to make online discussions a more engaging, fun way to learn. Some of these are Google Classroom, Zoom, Padlet, Kialo, Backchannel Chat, NowComment, among others. When used correctly, teachers can use these tools to promote effective online discussions. (https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/5-online-discussion-tools-to-fuel-student-engagement)
Sources:
Using Online Tools for Discussion
https://www.ctl.upenn.edu/using-online-tools-discussion
Generating Effective Questions
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/new-classroom-questioning-techniques-todd-finley
Fountas and Pinnell Literacy Blog
https://fpblog.fountasandpinnell.com/tag/daily-remote-learning-tip
5 Online Discussion Tools to Fuel Student Engagement
https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/5-online-discussion-tools-to-fuel-student-engagement
Online Discussion Tools: 6 Softwares and 4 Things to Do to Engage Your Students
https://www.teacheracademy.eu/blog/online-discussion-tools/
One way to promote online discussion is to utilize online discussion boards. Discussion boards allow students to articulate and share their ideas, while also responding to the ideas of their classmates. Discussion boards give students the opportunity to be engaged with their classmates, even if they are not learning in the same physical space. In order for discussion boards to be successful, clear expectations for participation should be set at the onset of the course. (https://www.ctl.upenn.edu/using-online-tools-discussion)
Another way to promote online discussion is to make sure that questions are effective. Effective questions that are developed through questioning techniques allow for deeper thinking on the students part. Open-ended questions that seek out evidence, ask students to explain, relate concepts and ideas, ask to students to predict, or ask students to describe give students the opportunity to become more engaged in the discussion (https://www.edutopia.org/blog/new-classroom-questioning-techniques-todd-finley). Questions posed to the class should also be clear and concise in order to avoid any confusion. Teachers should also encourage their students to engage with one another's posts. One way to do this is to lead by example; the teacher should also be engaging in all student posts. (https://www.ctl.upenn.edu/using-online-tools-discussion)
A third way to promote online discussion is to create discussion breakout rooms. This allows students to participate in collaborative learning within a small group, even when not learning in a traditional classroom setting. Time limits can be set while students are working in the breakout rooms, and teachers also have the ability to go in and out of breakout rooms at their discretion to monitor student participation. Teachers can also pose poll questions to their students in both breakout rooms and the main chat room to encourage student participation (https://www.teacheracademy.eu/blog/online-discussion-tools/).
There are multiple tools available to teachers to make online discussions a more engaging, fun way to learn. Some of these are Google Classroom, Zoom, Padlet, Kialo, Backchannel Chat, NowComment, among others. When used correctly, teachers can use these tools to promote effective online discussions. (https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/5-online-discussion-tools-to-fuel-student-engagement)
Sources:
Using Online Tools for Discussion
https://www.ctl.upenn.edu/using-online-tools-discussion
Generating Effective Questions
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/new-classroom-questioning-techniques-todd-finley
Fountas and Pinnell Literacy Blog
https://fpblog.fountasandpinnell.com/tag/daily-remote-learning-tip
5 Online Discussion Tools to Fuel Student Engagement
https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/5-online-discussion-tools-to-fuel-student-engagement
Online Discussion Tools: 6 Softwares and 4 Things to Do to Engage Your Students
https://www.teacheracademy.eu/blog/online-discussion-tools/
