1. How Can Online Discussions Transform My Teaching? Catlin Tucker – English language arts teacher and curriculum specialist Colt Briner – Former ESL teacher and co-creator of Collaborize Classroom

2. How to Engage Students Online Increase Participation & Improve Discussions Discussions are critical to learning What are the benefits of taking discussions online? Establish and maintain a safe space online Design quality questions Get students to say something substantial Incorporate multimedia Weave work online back into the classroom Approx. 45 minutes

4. Single learning source

5. Time limited to class period

6. Consumers, not contributors

7. Loud students dominate discussions

9. Asynchronous, differentiated learning

10. Consumers and contributors

11. Fewer barriers

12. 30 additional learning sources

13. More for participation

14. Strong sense of community

15. Improved modeling of good work

17. Good – Students engaged, nearly everyone participates

18. Fair – Room for improvement

19. A struggle - Like recruiting for jury duty

22. Like roaches when the lights come on

23. Just a wee bit crunched for time

24. “Excuse me but, aren’t you supposed to tell us the answer?”

26. “To repeat what others have said, requires education; to challenge it, requires brains” - Mary Pettibone Poole

27. Establish & Maintain a Safe Space Online Critique; don’t criticize Use names Compliment Ask questions Responsible & Supportive Communication

28. Design Quality Questions Inspire Substantive Responses that Drive Discussions

29. What does a strong question look like? Start with a catchy title Does Reading Cure Racism? Do you agree with Angelou’s statement that the only way we as a society will be free of the “blight of ignorance” is if we read and learn about African Heritage? Do you agree that reading, knowledge and education are essential to respecting differences and forming cross racial friendships? If so, why do you agree? If not, what do you think is crucial to eliminating ignorance between racial groups? Design different types of questions Layer questions Incorporate multimedia

30. “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” - William Butler Yeats

31. Incorporate Multimedia Visually Stimulating Videos Photos Slide Decks PDFs Audio Incorporate the best online resources

32. Get Students to Say Something Substantial Ask questions Build on other students’ ideas Make connections Offer alternative perspectives Include details and evidence Think outside the box

34. Follow up debates

35. Answer remaining questions

36. Discuss results

38. What employers look for Creativity Communication Collaboration What Employers are Looking For