Online Discussion Forums

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• Online Discussion Forums
• Andrea Urso
• ECI 521

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Reflecting on Face-to-Face Discussions about
Enders Game

• not all students are engaged
• dont like raising hands to make comments
• time constraints
• students want to pursue discussion about
  different topics
• forced comments

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How Can Online Discussion Forums Enhance
Students Discussions about Literature?
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The Net Generation

• they are comfortable with technology
• its exciting to use technology
• (Tapscott, 1998)

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Why ask students to discuss an issue on a
computer that might be more easily discussed
orally in class, the way weve always done it?
(Warlick, 2002)
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Because

• students are more comfortable and will be more
  likely to participate
• students are writing to an audience that will be
  responding
• (Warlick, 2002)

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Online Discussion Groups Can Lead to More
Meaningful Discussions

• more interaction between students
• responses are more meaningful because there is
  more time to reflect
• (Wolsey, 2004)

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Online Discussion Groups Can Lead to More
Meaningful Discussions

• written communication is more reflective than
  spoken communication
• learner-centered
• 
  (Sherry, 2000 Choi, 2002)

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What are the advantages of online discussion
groups for teachers?

• Teachers can monitor several discussion groups
  easily
• Teachers can easily participate in all groups
• (Wolsey, 2004)

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What are the advantages of online discussion
groups for teachers?

• teachers and students can interact in a new way
• easier assessment with transcript of entire
  discussion
• (Wolsey, 2004 Warlick, 2002)

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Discussion Questions

• How important is it to expand beyond the
  classroom?
• Will students really be more engaged in an online
  discussion? Can a student that doesnt have
  anything to say in class have something to say
  online?

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Discussion Questions

• Can an online discussion forum be an effective
  learning environment, given all of the
  distractions of the Internet?
• How much involvement should the teacher have?

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Discussion Questions

• How important is it for students to use correct
  spelling and grammar?
• Can an online discussion let some students
  advance without leaving others behind?

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Discussion Questions

• By using online discussion forums as an extension
  of the classroom, are teachers helping to further
  isolate students from the real world?
• Can online discussion forums help develop social
  skills?

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• Choi, C. C., Ho, H. (2002, July/August ).
  Exploring new literacies in online peer- learning
  environments. Reading Online, 6(1). Retrieved Feb
  08, 2005, from www.readingonline.org.
• Sherry, L. (2000). The nature and purpose of
  online conversations a brief synthesis of
  current research.. International Journal of
  Educational Telecommunications, 6(1).
• Retrieved Feb 08, 2005, from http//www.rmcdenve
  r.com/TEN//dialogue/htm.
• Tapscott, D. (1998). Growing up digital the rise
  of the net generation. New York McGraw-Hill.
• Warlick, D. (2002). Raw materials for the mind.
  3rd ed. Raleigh, NC The Landmark Project
• Wolsey, T. D. (2004, January/February ).
  Literature discussion in cyberspace young
• adolescents using threaded discussion groups to
  talk about books. Reading Online, 7(4).
  Retrieved Feb 02, 2005, from www.readingonline.org