Interactive Discussions – Synchronous
Pro’s
1) Happening, existing, or arising at precisely the same time
2) High level of questions can engage students in higher order thinking
Con’s
Some students may not participate
Instructional Benefits
Exchanging ideas and responses
Instructional Strategies
Open-ended questions elicit multiple perspectives by promoting student participation, while online discussions enable the sharing and debating multiple perspectives simultaneously without worrying about interrupting the flow of a conversation that had already moved on.
Interactive Discussions – Asynchronous
Pro’s
1) Not occurring at the same time
2) High level of questions can engage students in higher order thinking
Con’s
Some students may not participate
Instructional Benefits
Exchanging ideas and responses
Instructional Strategies
1) Carefully design questions that specifically elicit on-topic discussion, 2) provide guidelines to help online learners prepare on-topic responses, 3) reword the original question when responses are going in the wrong direction and 4) provide discussion summary on a regular basis.
I have to be honest - I have not used graphic organizers in teaching high school mathematics. I have seen them used often in the younger grades, but not very frequently at the high school level. I do see however, how they can be used in a distance education setting to explain the ideas that a student has and be used for collaboration with other students. Tools like Webspiration (I used it for another class) work well for this purpose also. This allows for collaboration from student-to-student or student-to-teacher communication in an online classroom setting.
Asynchronous learning environments allow teachers to use both new technologies and the pedagogies that are made possible by their use. The new methods of communication foster communication that can replace the face-to-face communication in brick-and-mortar classrooms. Tools like instant messaging, VoIP conversations via IM services or with new technologies like ooVoo.com can even improve what online conversations miss – that face-to-face contact. But the blending of all these technologies into a online classroom setting can only make it better.
Although research demonstrates that online education can be as effective as traditional instruction when these technologies are put to a good use, the instructor’s role must include timely feedback to students posting, and keep the online conversations lively and on track.
References
Bourne, J., & Moore, J. C. (2005). Elements of quality education: Engaging communities. Sloan-C. 6, pp. 7-12. Needham: The Sloan Consortium.
Durrington, V. A., Berryhill, A., & Swafford, J. (2006). Strategies for enhancing student interactivity in an online environment. College Teaching , 54 (1), 190-193.
Garrison, D., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: Computer conferencing in higher education. Retrieved January 10, 2009, from http://communitiesofinquiry.com/files/Critical_Inquiry_model.pdf
Seimans, G. (2008). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. ITForum.
Siemens, G. (2007). George Siemens - Curatorial Teaching. Retrieved January 10, 2009, from http://learnonline.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/10-minute-lecture-george-siemens-curatorial-teaching/
I liked this graphic organizer and especially your main categories along the left hand column. Actually, in my "real job" I was about to do two Ben Franklin T's for these 2 possible solutions to an idea, but now I think I am going to "borrow" your graphic organizer with the Pros and Cons in the left hand column!
ReplyDeleteI sat and stared at this for a long time:
Asynch: Pro -Not occurring at the same time
Sync: Pro - precisely the same time
It took me awhile to figure out how those were both pros. Then it hit me: not being at the same time gives students a chance to reflect and formulate a really thoughtful answer. However being at the same time, provides the energy, synchopation, and unreplicable chemistry of a live discussion.
I thought your instructional strategies were particularly great.
I liked and disliked your graphic organize -more closely to the point I liked and disliked that it was simple. I think the topic was pretty large to wrap around, and simplifying it made parts much easier to understand, but because it was ll so complex, I felt that things were missing.
ReplyDeleteIn talking about the community of inquiry, my interpretation was that the facilitator was just as much a part of the community as the students and yet this is not part of your organizer/ Perhaps I misinterpreted the assignment...or went way over the top to include all that I could. I am not sure that mine makes sense really.