Bringing Online Discussion into Class

blackboard > faculty interviews > used in: big classes > Bringing Online Discussion into Class

Andrew Dell'Antonio
School of Music , College of Fine Arts

Tips

Althaus(1997) and Meyers(1997) showed the benefits of CMC for large conventional classes organized into small online discussion groups. Data revealed that students who regularly communicate each others (e.g., via email, student-organized chatrooms, face-to-face contact) not only enjoyed these contacts, but had higher final grades in the class than distance learners who remained isolated (Hiltz, 1993; Kember, Lai, Murphy & Yuen, 1992; Wang & Newlin, 2000).

In a large class, put students in small groups (6students/group) and assign weekly discussion questions.
- Students prepare answers to the questions
- Students discuss in the online groups
- On Fridays, the topic is discussed in class

Related Resources

Althaus, S. L. (1997). Computer-mediated communication in the university classroom: An experiment with on-line discussions. Communication Education, 46, 158-174.
Meyers, S.A.(1997). Increasing student participation and productivity in small group activities for psychology classes. Teaching of psychology, 24, 105-115.
McKeachie, W.J. (1999). Teaching tips:Strategies, research and theory for college and university teachers(10th ed.). Boston:Houghton-Mifflin