Online+discussions


 * Online discussions (minimum 2 comments per week; 8 total) **
 * DUE: Weekly **

I apologize in advance for the length of this assignment description. It's really not that complicated, but with this 100% online format I'm trying to err on the side of too much detail rather than not enough.

Online discussions will, for the most part, be focused on readings you are completing for the class. Due to the compressed time frame (4 weeks) of this course, we will divide each week’s online discussions into two parts: Part A (Sunday - Wednesday); and Part B (Thursday - Saturday). Part A will consist of discussion starters/questions that I will pose and that you will discuss in //assigned// groups of five students. These will be posted on Sunday afternoon/evening each week. Part B will consist of discussion starters/questions posed by several your classmates, and you may join any discussions that interest you (but you must participate in at least one). These will be posted on Wednesday night each week.

At minimum, then, you will post two comments on the discussion boards each week: one for Part A (for which you will be in an assigned group), and one for Part B (for which you may choose any of the questions posted that week by your classmates). Your assigned groups for Part A each week will be listed on that week’s wiki page. The make-up of the groups will change each week, so you’ll be discussing/interacting with different classmates throughout the course.

So, a week of online discussions will look like this:
 * **PART A (Sun -Wed)**


 * *I ask discussion questions **


 * *Questions posted each Sunday **


 * *Assigned discussion groups **


 * *Post at least one comment in assigned discussion **
 * thread sometime between Sunday-Wednesday** ||  **Part B (Thurs-Sat)**


 * *Classmates ask discussion questions **


 * *Questions posted each Wednesday night **


 * *No assigned groups **


 * *Post at least one comment in discussion thread of **
 * your choosing sometime between Thursday-Saturday.** ||

Each of you will be assigned to come up with questions on the readings **once** during the 4-week class. You will construct three questions based on any of the week’s readings (no more than one question per reading) and email them to me by Wednesday at noon. I will choose one of your questions to post on the discussion board that night. For some guidance on composing you discussion questions, go here.

Here is the schedule for “discussion leaders” (or “question posers” might be more accurate): Alison B Hannah D Kim D Erik W Amy W || ** Week 2 ** Jennifer B Mary D Jacqueline H Sarah M Molly U || ** Week 3 ** Adam B Michelle G Brandi W Anne H Cassy N Stacy || ** Week 4 ** Sarah H Randy H Jodi L Brandon K Jill U YoungHak || I will read all posts and will occasionally chime in on the discussions as well. Your grade for the online discussions will be based on your participation level (at least two comments per week -- more is extra credit) and the level of reflection and thinking that is evidenced in your posts. While word count does not always correspond with insightfulness, you should make an effort to make your comments substantive. Refrain from simply agreeing with someone else (“I like what _ said”); rather, try to deepen or extend the conversation. Also, make an effort to connect to an idea from the readings in each of your posts. It’s great to connect to your own classroom experience as well, but your posts should make it evident that you have indeed read the required chapters.
 * ** Week 1 **

If you have never participated in online discussion boards before, this may sound a bit confusing. Don’t worry. It’ll make sense once we get going.

Return to Assignments page.