Week 7 Reflection

In reflecting on the success of the post activity I created for this week's assignment, I have a tough time knowing if this was a good activity or not. Based on the requirements of the activity I am not sure if the responses were posted because my questions were engaging, or if it is because responses were required. It would be interesting in the future to see if responses could be optional. That way one might have a better idea of the motivation in the responses.

Constructing Quality Questions for Discussion

                In an online learning environment, the online discussion forum is often considered the heart of the learning community (Boettcher, & Conrad, 2010).  It is in the discussion forum that learners are able to connect with course material through their own synthesis of resources alongside the analysis of their classmates (Oosterhof, Conrad, & Ely, 2008).  It is also a place where learners can reflect on their own experiences and apply them to the content throughout a course (Boettcher, & Conrad, 2010).  A final important aspect of online education is the collaboration that can be created as part of the discussion forum.  The discussion forum is often an online learner's first experience in a new learning format, therefore a positive interactive experience is very important (Boettcher, & Conrad, 2010).  With these thoughts on online discussion forums in mind consider these questions.

1.  What was your most memorable experience with an online discussion forum?

2.  Describe the interaction in the forum community with the instructor and with other members of the learning community.  (In other words was the interaction driven by the instructor, or was it more leaner driven?)

3.  Was the atmosphere like in the forum?  (Was it inviting, hostile, competitive, collaborative, polite?)

4.  What did the instructor do (or did not do) that contributed the to an atmosphere of community and collaboration in the discussion forum?

5.  How were you assessed in the discussion forums?  Do think these assessments were appropriate for the type of learning that took place in the discussion forum?

By Wednesday
Use the questions above and discuss your most memorable discussion forum experience.  Focus on the atmosphere of the forums and whether the instructor and students were able to create a community of positive engagement and collaboration.  Compare your experience with the best practices of online discussions given in this week's learning resources.

By Sunday
Respond to at least two initial discussion posts of your classmates.  Compare your experience to theirs, and offer constructive comments, suggestions, or expand on their thinking.  Include references to either course materials or resources outside course materials within the responses.
It is expected that responses to initial posts will be given in a timely manner (Timely being within 1-2 days of the initial post).
It is also expected that learners will respond to those who have taken the time to read and respond to their initial posts.

Discussion Forum Scoring Rubric

This Week's Learning Resources

Reading: 
Course Text
The Online Teaching Survival Guide:  Chapter 5 Tips for Course Beginnings
Assessing Learners Online: Chapter 13 Interaction and Collaboration Online

Media:
Video:  Palloff, R., & Pratt, K. (n.d.). Assessing interaction and collaboration in online environments [Web]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher?type=Course&id=_1971563_1&url=

References

Boettcher, J., & Conrad, R. (2010). The online teaching survival guide: Simple and practical           pedagogical tips. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Oosterhof, A., Conrad, R., & Ely, D. (2008). Assessing learners online. Upper Saddle River, N.J.:   Pearson Education Inc.