Ideas for Improving the Quality of Online Discussions

• In Event: 480 - Section on Teaching and Learning in Sociology Paper Session. Online Matters

Abstract

The teaching literature represents a consensus that discussion increases student learning. This paper is about how to use these discussions to increase problem solving skills by using question stems to increase the level of the discussion questions to go from looking up facts and definitions to doing analysis and evaluation to answer questions that encourage problem solving skills. Examples of how questions can be revised for higher levels of learning will be included. The paper will also include examples of student responses and show how these question stems can help a struggling student gain a better understanding of important concepts when students truly interact. I will use examples from an online introductory statistics class to show examples of how to questions that use abilities of analysis, synthesis, evaluation and prediction. Several references will be provided for using stem questions and these ideas after ASA is over. Metacognition ideas will also be provided for how to have students use self-evaluation for improving discussion posting to develop their sense of responsibility for their own learning.

Author

• Patricia R. Hoffman, New Mexico State University