Estimated Time: 20 Minutes

Peer-to-Peer Learning

Establishing teacher presence and cultivating a community of learners is essential in online and blended learning. In addition to individual connections between teacher and learner, we also need to use discussion boards and other collaborative spaces to promote peer to peer learning. As we take a closer look at discussion boards/forums, consider what is most appropriate for your learners. For example, a text-based discussion would be frustrating, if not impossible for early childhood learners. Using a tool like Flipgrid (pictured below), allows learners to share their thinking without the limitation of writing abilities. However, tools like Flipgrid are not just for early elementary. It is important to give learners a variety of options for sharing their ideas and asking questions.

Best Practices for Online Discussions

If constructed properly, threaded discussions can produce higher-order thinking and a positive classroom community. An excellent class discussion is one in which the students are replying to each other based on a teacher-created open-ended prompt. The discussion topic should be interesting to students and require them to offer more than just their opinion or just a fact. In this setting, the online teacher's responsibility is to ask questions that guide the discussion, prod the students to think more deeply, and explore other viewpoints. "Some question types that foster conversation include: subjective questions, evaluative questions, problem-solving questions, brainstorming questions, and debate questions. Questions that "kill" the conversation include factual and information-retrieval questions." (From: Catlin Tucker, Blended Learning in Grades 4-12, pgs. 46-46)

Self-Reflection

As educators online as well as in brick and mortar classrooms, we want to support our learners while also promoting student agency. Sometimes the best solution is not to step in and rescue, but instead, ask yourself, "Could someone besides me do this?" For example, could a peer respond in the discussion and explain it as good or better? Could someone create a video tutorial to explain it to those struggling? If the answer is yes, then your job isn't to answer the questions. Your job as the lead learner is to make the connections instead.

What are other ways that you can provide opportunities for peer to peer learning?

Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication and Collaboration

The importance of being intentional in the use of both synchronous and asynchronous learning experiences to leverage the benefits of each and minimize the disadvantages.

To be clear, the debate isn't about synchronous vs. asynchronous. Highly effective online teaching requires a combination of both synchronous and asynchronous learning. When we understand what each approach does well, we can design with intentionality.

Choice Activity

Explore 1 (or more) of the resources linked below to consider:

• What are the pros and cons of both synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning?

• How can we help nurture learner relationships, encourage learner interaction, and monitor and motivate learner engagement?

• What are specific approaches to whole-group, small-group, and one-on-one instruction?

[READ] - Asynchronous vs. Synchronous: How to Design for Each Type of Learning

[ANALYZE] Infographic - Online Teaching: Do This, Not That by @alisonkis
Note: Be sure to review the updated infographic labeled, "Combination of asynchronous and synchronous learning".

[READ & ANALYZE] Article with graphics - How Can We Make the Most of Synchronous and Asynchronous Time in Distance Learning?

[READ] Article - Asynchronous Learning: Definition, Benefits, and Example Activities

[READ] - 7 Strategies Designed to Increase Student Engagement in Synchronous Online Discussions Using Video Conferencing

[READ] - 6 Ideas for Creating a Remote Community of Learners

Source

Leading Edge Certification for the Online and Blended Teacher