Student collaboration
Student collaboration
Maintaining a sense of community can help keep students motivated to participate and learn. If you already had some sort of student-to-student online activity, consider adapting that, since students will be used to both the process and the tool. Presence is a given component in our face-to-face courses, but it requires more intentional planning and design in the digital space. However, social presence can be fostered in other ways online.
Maintaining a sense of community can help keep students motivated to participate and learn. If you already had some sort of student-to-student online activity, consider adapting that, since students will be used to both the process and the tool. Presence is a given component in our face-to-face courses, but it requires more intentional planning and design in the digital space. However, social presence can be fostered in other ways online.
Keep these principles in mind:
Keep these principles in mind:
Use asynchronous tools when possible:
Use asynchronous tools when possible:
Having students participate in live online conversations can be useful, but scheduling can be a problem, and only a few students will actively participate (just like in your classroom). In such cases, using asynchronous tools like Blackboard Discussions or Blogs allows students to participate on their own schedules. In addition, bandwidth requirements for discussion boards are far lower than for live video tools.
Having students participate in live online conversations can be useful, but scheduling can be a problem, and only a few students will actively participate (just like in your classroom). In such cases, using asynchronous tools like Blackboard Discussions or Blogs allows students to participate on their own schedules. In addition, bandwidth requirements for discussion boards are far lower than for live video tools.
Link to clear goals and outcomes:
Link to clear goals and outcomes:
Make sure there are clear purposes and outcomes for any student-to-student interaction. How does this activity help them meet course outcomes or prepare for other assignments?
Make sure there are clear purposes and outcomes for any student-to-student interaction. How does this activity help them meet course outcomes or prepare for other assignments?
Build in simple accountability:
Build in simple accountability:
Assigning points for online discussion posts can be tedious, so some instructors ask for reflective statements where students detail their contributions and reflect on what they learned from the conversation. Do what works for you, but keep it consistent.
Assigning points for online discussion posts can be tedious, so some instructors ask for reflective statements where students detail their contributions and reflect on what they learned from the conversation. Do what works for you, but keep it consistent.
Tools for fostering communication & collaboration
Tools for fostering communication & collaboration
Online Discussion with Blackboard
Online Discussion with Blackboard
Discussion is an excellent strategy to create social presence in your online or hybrid course. Students can use discussion to connect asynchronously through the discussion board in the learning management system or synchronously through tools like Zoom, which can offer students, especially those who may need time to process course content, the chance to formulate their thinking and articulate questions related to the course materials.
Discussion is an excellent strategy to create social presence in your online or hybrid course. Students can use discussion to connect asynchronously through the discussion board in the learning management system or synchronously through tools like Zoom, which can offer students, especially those who may need time to process course content, the chance to formulate their thinking and articulate questions related to the course materials.
Resources
Resources
Zoom Videoconferencing Software:
Zoom Videoconferencing Software:
Zoom is an easy to use, full-featured videoconferencing tool. Besides giving students the opportunity to meet independently, you can also meet with an entire class and create breakout rooms where groups can meet and share ideas before reconvening as a class.
Zoom is an easy to use, full-featured videoconferencing tool. Besides giving students the opportunity to meet independently, you can also meet with an entire class and create breakout rooms where groups can meet and share ideas before reconvening as a class.
Resources
Resources
Getting started with Zoom sessions in Blackboard (W&M IT site)
Getting started with Zoom sessions in Blackboard (W&M IT site)
Zoom Help Center can answer most questions about Zoom
Zoom Help Center can answer most questions about Zoom
Google's G-Suite
Google's G-Suite
William & Mary’s campus-wide suite of Google tools. Students can easily share Google Docs, Spreadsheets, Presentations, and much more. For instructors to be able to share more easily with students, we highly suggest instructors request a G-Suite account from IT.
William & Mary’s campus-wide suite of Google tools. Students can easily share Google Docs, Spreadsheets, Presentations, and much more. For instructors to be able to share more easily with students, we highly suggest instructors request a G-Suite account from IT.
Resources
Resources
Google G-Suite Learning Center (Google Site)
Google G-Suite Learning Center (Google Site)
Presented by the Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation in coordination with Information Technology and W&M Libraries.
Copyright © 2020
Presented by the Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation in coordination with Information Technology and W&M Libraries.
Copyright © 2020