Fostering Online Discussion

Being engaged with your online learners throughout the course is one of the three biggest weaknesses of online teachers. It is also one of the three biggest ways to take your online course to the next level, making it a superior learning experience for your learners. Come experience how to do it from the creator of the concept and practice of ‘continual engagement’ in teaching. Discover how to build student success through your interaction, how to give online learners feedback, communicating with them about everything from subject matter to delicate issues to grading. You will come away with advanced, practical, how-to tips from one of the foremost authorities on fostering online discussion. And you will see how your instructor models great interaction and engagement in the online environment.

Agenda

Unit 1
How Continual Engagement Helps You Foster Effective Online Discussions
What is continual engagement?
Why is continual engagement important?
Breaking down the barriers to effective continual engagement in your discussion interaction

Unit 2
Building Your Students’ Success through Your Interaction
Why continual engagement in online discussion is important to your students’ success
Choosing your words carefully in discussion interaction
Strategies to use at the beginning of your term
Strategies to use as the term gets underway
Strategies to use when things get hectic

Unit 3
Assessing Your Students’ Performance
Giving effective feedback
Communicating with students about grades
Some special challenges of group work and how to overcome them

Unit 4
Keeping Your Communication Skills Sharp
How networking with your peers can build your skills
Using break times effectively
Working with an assistant
How online interaction enhances your face-to-face instruction