Beyond D

iscussions Presented by

Jordan Epp & Jeanette McKee

CCDE Instructional Designers

May 27, 2009

Beyond D

iscussions

• Who has used the Blackboard Discussion tool?

• Who has a Facebook account?

• Who uses Twitter?

Objectives

• To suggest learning strategies for expanded use of the Discussion tool in Blackboard

• To explore social networking tools for expanding discussions: Twitter and Facebook

• To determine interest in pilot projects using these or other tools

LMS

- Blackboard

Discussion Tool

• A tool in Blackboard used to facilitate online class discussions.

• Typically, instructor posts a discussion topic; students respond.

• Messages are organized into threads.

•Asynchronous - flexible, convenient for distance learning

Discussion T

ool in Blackboard

• Can be set up for small and large groups

• Usually graded for evaluation• Tracked in the course; instructor

can view participation for evaluation and run reports

Discussion T

ool in Blackboard

Strategies for a Successful Discussion

Need structure, facilitation, & marks:• Have a moderator for each group to

keep the discussion moving and on track

• Assign roles and rotate them among the students

• Require a no. of posts and replies per week

• Include in course evaluation

Discussion T

ool in Blackboard

Example of discussion tool

Types of Learning Com

munities

LMS• WebCT• Blackboard• Moodle• Places where learners and Instructors meet for synchronous and asynchronous communication. • Where students can access and contribute content.• Where tools for assessment and evaluation are integrated.

Social Networks• Facebook• Myspace• Ning• Twitter• Users communicate asynchronously.• Users build community of like-minded friends.• Sharing of content and ideas.• “Phone a friend lifeline”.

Virtual Environments• Second Life• Quest Atlantis• Activeworlds• Vlearn 3D• Provides “Physical” space for learning.• Provides tools for building, communication and programming.• Media is imported via streaming/mapping.• Learners communicate synchronously through chat or voice.

Social N

etworks

• Social Networks In Plain English 1:53• Social capital: resources

accumulated through relationships among people

• Filter the info from the web: build your social network with like-minded people and interests

• Once you build the network, info will come to you continually

Social N

etworking Tools

Facebook

• Largest social network for N.Americans

• Network map built through viewing friends of

friends or searching for interests.

• Join Groups and Networks through searches

and invites.

• Prolific participation/profiling reaps rewards.

• Activities:

Commenting, tagging, uploading, linking,

inviting, and joining.

Facebook

• Media/information Literacy• Networking• Build your own Network of Friends

based on professional colleagues• Create a Group for your course• Encourage non-evaluated discussion

and collaboration• Chris Avenir - Ryerson Chem.

How to use Facebook in learning

Facebook

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Social N

etworking Tools

Twitter

• The new front porch - Darryl Dash• Use up to 140 characters• Messages are called tweets• Public or private• Purpose: To share short updates about what you are doing, where you are, a question you pose, and/or resources to share.

Tw

itter

• Started in 2006

• March 2009: 15M users per month and increasing rapidly

• Hospitals - fastest growing users (I.e. surgeons)

• May 31 Conference “Twitter for Business” in San Francisco

Tw

itter

Twitter and Learning:

• “The process of forming a community of learners is an important issue in distance learning because it can affect student satisfaction, retention, and learning (Brown, 2001)

• Foster interaction - active learning• Support metacognition (thinking

about and reflecting on your learning) which benefits comprehension and retention.

Tw

itter

• “The brilliance of Twitter is that it so easily connects people on all different types of computers and cell phone platforms” (Whaley, 2009)

Tw

itter

• Twitter.com

• Tweetdeck.com

• Twitterfox - plug-in for Firefox; messages pop up when open browser

• Free!

• Add-ons: webcam, songs

Discussion

Think about how these technological tools could be used to enhance learning in our courses.

Q What ideas do you have for pilot projects using any of these technological tools or other technological tools??