101. The Transformative Power of AI

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Folks, let’s face it. Our classrooms are going to look a little different this year. AI, specifically ChatGPT, is going to change the way we design learning experiences and assess student mastery. I’ll be honest, when I first explored the ChatGPT platform I was terrified. As I have dug deeper into the technology and its capabilities, I realized that while it does pose significant challenges — it also presents us with some pretty amazing opportunities. In this series, we will explore what AI is capable of, its implications in the classroom, and how it can benefit both teachers and students. Let’s start by examining where we have been, where we are currently, and looking forward to where we are going. Whether this is a trip you wanted to go on or not, the AI train has left the station and it is time for all of us to jump on board. From Card Catalogs to Artificial Intelligence I belong to the micro-generation called Xennial. Xennials are considered to be a “bridge” between Generation X a...
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#26. Designing Effective Online Discussions

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Like many educators around the world, I have no clue what the next school year will look like. I am preparing for the possibility of teaching classes in the physical classroom,  online or some sort of hybrid. I'll be honest, the last two months were really difficult. I struggled with keeping students engaged, implementing effective instructional strategies online and maintaining any semblance of balance between my personal and professional lives. As I reflect upon the last two months and prepare for whatever next year might bring, I want to focus on 
1) Identifying best practices in my traditional instruction that can make my online instruction more effective
AND
2) Identifying best practices in online instruction that can make my traditional/blended instruction more effective.

PsychSessions: Ask016
The inspiration for this post came from a Podcast that I listen to called "PsychSessions." PsychSessions launched in 2017. It is moderated by two college professors, Dr. Gareth Neufeld and Dr. Eric Landrum. As a psychology teacher, I have always enjoyed this podcast because it includes interesting content  and helpful discussions about teaching psychology.  Recently, the focus of many episodes has shifted to online learning. They have covered topics including designing effective online discussions, ways to administer remote exams, and easily implemented recommendations for teachers who are teaching online for the first time. What I love about these podcasts is that they are bite-sized, about 15 minutes long!

In Episode 16, they explored how to tackle discussions and exams online. I loved how they framed the importance of utilizing class discussions; not only are they effective instructional tools but they also help build a community of learners. This is one of my key concerns for next year! How do I build a community if we start the school year online? Discussions also provide the teacher a snapshot of each students comprehension of the material, foster collaboration between the students, and can encourage a deeper understanding of the material. This episode offered some really practical tips to consider when designing class discussions, both inside and outside the traditional classroom walls. 

 Here are my takeaways:
  • Place the students into small discussion groups at the beginning of each semester. Smaller groups encourage equal participation by creating an environment in which all voices are heard.  Oftentimes, in whole class discussions, the first post gets a ton of responses and the posts at the end get little attention.
  • I use the Canvas LMS. Here's a quick How-To on how to create groups in Canvas.
  • Groups can be random or based on student needs and personalities.
  • Stagger the due dates for the initial and reply posts.
  • Encourage original thoughts in the initial post by asking the students to post their response before seeing their peers, if possible.  
  • Provide specific criteria for what you want to see in the post and the reply. This helps avoid replies that add little to the overall discussion like "I agree" or "great point."
There are a number of benefits to incorporating discussion into online learning. First, it is designed to engage all of the students equally. The discussion is not hampered by a 45 minute period. Secondly, it provides the students time to prepare and think about their responses. Some of my students have said that online discussions are much less stressful than classroom discussions. Lastly, it allows the teacher to identify and address misconceptions quickly.

How will this inform my own classroom? I cannot wait to try using small groups for my online class discussions! I think it will lead to more meaningful discussions and foster a sense of community within each class. I also will be more specific in my requirements for the initial and reply posts.

 I would love to hear more about your experiences using online discussions! What has worked? What hasn't? What are some other platforms for online discussions? Please share in the comments section!

 References:
10 Tips for Effective Online Discussions. (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://er.educause.edu/blogs/2018/11/10-tips-for-effective-online-discussions

 Inside Higher Ed. (n.d.). Retrieved May 20, 2020, from https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2019/03/27/new-approaches-discussion-boards-aim-dynamic-online-learning

Neufeld, G., & Landrum, E. (2020, March 15). Retrieved from http://psychsessionspodcast.libsyn.com/ask016-how-do-i-have-effective-discussions-and-exams-when-suddenly-taking-my-face-to-face-course-online

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