Discussion boards in online courses are probably one of the most misunderstood and potential-filled tools that exist in the online world. This misunderstanding leads to a lack-luster and obligatory use, which nobody enjoys or finds value in. The potential of discussion boards, though, lie in recognizing what they’re for.
They aren’t meant to take the place of in-class, live discussion. Nothing can replace that. But they are meant to provide a space for student-student interaction, student-instructor interaction, and discovery by all involved.
Here’s an awesome (short) video with some tips, if you’re wanting to make your discussion boards more awesome and less painful.
AI and teaching with AI is certainly near the top of our brains these days.
OKLIS (Oklahoma Learning Innovations Summit) hosted a session on teaching with AI, and recorded it for us! Watch it below, or access it on YouTube here.
Teaching with AI is fun/hard/weird/unsettling/surprising/all of the above.
ChatGPT gets all the press (plus, saying “ChatGPT” sounds techy and cool), but did you know there are waaaaay more AI Tools out there? To do more things than just generate text?
Oklahoma’s own Dr. Buck Dodd has made an AI Toolkit available through his company ClearKinetic. Check it out below to explore more of what AI can do!
Leave a comment below if you’ve used some in the online or F2F (face-to-face for all you cool kids) classroom.
As faculty members deeply committed to student success in online education, we are delving into a crucial topic today and exploring strategies to make interactions more meaningful. You can access the article here: Link to the article. Here are some highlights of strategies you can implement to ensure regular and substantive interaction without overwhelming yourself
Structured Discussion Boards: Creating structured discussion board activities with clear prompts and expectations can help maintain regular interaction without the need for constant monitoring. This structure encourages focused and substantive conversations.
Peer Interaction: Encouraging peer-to-peer interactions and group work can distribute the interaction load and foster substantive learning. When students engage with each other, they benefit from diverse perspectives and collaborative learning.
Scheduled Office Hours: Setting specific times for virtual office hours or Q&A sessions provides dedicated times for students to interact with you. This ensures regularity without being overwhelming and allows for more in-depth discussions.
Automation: Leveraging technology to automate routine tasks, such as scheduling the sending reminders or announcements, can help you stay engaged with students without the need for constant manual intervention. This way, you can focus on meaningful interactions.
Our collective goal is to enhance student success in online education. By implementing these strategies, we can keep creating engaging online learning environments that empower our students to thrive.
I encourage you to read the article! Together, we can strengthen the quality of online learning and set our students on a path to success.
Happy teaching, and here’s to fostering a more interactive and effective online education environment!