Those @$&#! Discussion Boards!

[dbodman]

Presentation Title

Sand Dollars and Starfish:  Making the Most Out of Canvas Discussion Boards

Abstract / Session Overview

Canvas provides unique ways that encourage student engagement and learning. It’s time to drop ineffective and tired discussion boards and integrate new ways of introducing, discussing, learning and engaging! Instead of looking at the whole beach, this presentation will focus on the starfish!

Details

Wednesday, July 10, 2:30 - 3:10...Come and get a sand dollar!

Presented by Bethany Van Vleet and Denise Ann Bodman, Arizona State University.

Resources

• https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/developing-assi...
• https://www.softchalkcloud.com/lesson/serve/srQfMXVFUcjBqN/html
• https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/online-discussion-boards/

InstructureCon 2019

Read More Presentation Blogs

[dbodman]

Student:  I love bread.

Response:  Joe, I agree with you!  I love bread, too!  I like the part when you said you loved bread.  Great point!

(from https://me.me/t/discussion-board)

[Bobby2]

Goody. I hope they film this one! Great topic  @dbodman 

[dbodman]

We had fun with it, Bobby, so I hope it translates!  

[dbodman]

[dbodman]

[Stef_retired]

Want to discuss discussion boards?  @dbodman ‌ has initiated a discussion about discussions here: https://community.canvaslms.com/thread/35384-discussion-boards-discussion 

[dbodman]

[dbodman]

Discussion boards can be a great way to introduce oneself!

"Hello!  My name is Inigo Montoya..."

[Bobby2]

PERFECT. Best movie ever. 

Great idea  @dbodman 

[dbodman]

True story!

[ProfessorBeyrer]

Thank you  @dbodman ‌ for sharing that screenshot. I admire this student's willingness to share their feelings so strongly in front of the other members of their miniature society. My first reaction was sympathy for the student and the frustration of dealing with the endless re-creation of miniature societies. But then I recognized how flexible your instructions are and also that this student will become part of several communities throughout their career. Indeed, college is when people likely create, join, and leave more communities and societies than at any other time in our lives. I wonder if forced community-building through routinized one-post, two-reply discussions will be missed, especially at workplaces where "society" barely exists, even in miniature.

[dbodman]

"Indeed, college is when people likely create, join, and leave more communities and societies than at any other time in our lives."

What an interesting and profound thought, Gregory, especially as related to our now "online communities."  Taking your ideas further, it seems that today *everyone* can find a community through social media, perhaps sometimes to the detriment of our society.  I wonder if some students might find our "forced" community building a bit tedious, especially our fully online students.

BTW...that screenshot/assignment was not mine but someone else's.  One can read so many layers into the post (and assignment).: Our typical one post-two replies, a request for personal information (which might be an innocent request but perceived by some as rude and inappropriate), the honesty of a student (might the teacher scoff at such honesty?  might the teacher feel empathy?).  Might we sometimes overlook the power and depth of discussion boards?

[ProfessorBeyrer]

John Green is my favorite YouTuber and I use his Crash Course history videos in my history classes. He did a TED talk a few years ago and eloquently describes the formation of communities online:

Paper towns and why learning is awesome | John Green - YouTube 

[dbodman]

I've been dreaming of discussion boards and InstructureCon 2019!  Less than 2 weeks away!  What did you dream about last night?