Learning and Leading - February 2009

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Keep Them Chatting

Student interaction and col- content, what information can the findings, such as using shared docu-
laboration in K–12 online students discover on their own? ments in Google. Students are also
courses can be challenging. Next, select questions that force asked to study, question, and evaluate
Lively, robust discussions can be dif- students to interact and learn course other group projects.
ficult to form. Chat, discussion board,
content using research and collabora-

The discrepant event inquiry method.

and wiki topics wither from limited
tion. Below are four types of questions:

Students begin by viewing an unex-

student responses. Students lose inter-

High-level, open-ended questions. plained demonstration, photo, video,

est and move discussions to personal

In an English group wiki assignment, or simulation. In a group wiki as-

topics. Instructors, worried about

I ask, “If The Odyssey were written signment for middle school social

students copying from the Internet,
in the Wild West in the1800s, what studies, students view a brief video
throw up their hands and resort to might have happened? Why? Rewrite showing the advanced civilizations
lecturing in the chat room. Other edu- an episode in the new time period.” of the Mayas, Incas, and Aztecs. The
cators get discouraged because their Groups are given a rubric listing nec- assignment begins with the question
students write only what is required. essary parts of the project, and each “The Incas, Mayas, and Aztecs, all vast
But there are techniques for stimu- group member is required to add a civilizations, disappeared mysteri-
lating meaningful online discussions. certain number of significant entries ously. Where did they go? Trace your
If you try them, you just might find and a certain number of significant assigned culture to modern day.” Stu-
you have the opposite problem— changes to the wiki. They are also re- dents must complete detailed research
students won’t leave! We’ve actually
quired to add comments and sugges- of their topic. The teacher provides
had to continue courses beyond en-
tions to other groups’ wikis. guidelines for the information needed,
rollment dates because the discussions
such as timelines and geographic
The inquiry method. Students are
information, as well as requirements

were so active and productive.
given a question that requires research
for the number of entries and changes
The first step is to plan the objectives
and problem solving. In a biology dis-
per participant. When complete, they
and outcomes for the discussion. For
cussion board group assignment, stu-
read, question, and evaluate other
example, if the
dents are asked, “If your assigned vi-
groups’ wikis. Several years after giv-
course has rus or disease were active for the next
ing this assignment, I was contacted
instruc- 100 years, what might happen? What
by a student who said, “I couldn’t stop
tional changes would you predict in the
learning about the Mayans.” The stu-
population? Support your answers
dent had become an expert and knew
with research.” In the discussion
another former student who reported
board, students hypothesize and
the same effect.
brainstorm. They plan ways

to research their topic Personal examples. Physics students over several days. Stu- begin with the survey question “In dents are given specific your chat group, discuss guidelines to report their the characteristics