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Discussion Boards/Blogs/Wikis: How Do You Choose?

Interaction is one of the keys to student engagement in learning.  Activities that engage students help focus their intellectual efforts.  Web based technology offers numerous ways to connect with and engage students. Threaded discussions, blogs, and wikis can all be used to engage students.  Each works best in specific situations.

Effective online discussions require planning, social presence and good questions – questions that require respondents to use critical analysis skills.  Threaded discussions are closed forums within Blackboard, whereas blogs and wikis can be open forums connected to the wider world.

This workshop is not currently being offered.  The CTE will be happy to consult with individuals or small groups who wish to explore instructional use of these tools further

Outcomes

By the end of this session, you should be able to:

• Apply research-based principles to support decisions for selecting and using specific technologies
• Describe the basic functionality of each of the above tools.
• Describe the most appropriate tool to match your instructional context and objectives.
• List key considerations involved in planning to use these tools to support teaching and learning.
• List key considerations related to assessing student use of these tools.
  

Session Overview

Resources

• Discussion Board Decision Tree
• 7 Things You Should Know About Wikis
• 7 Things You Should Know About Blogs
• Chickering, Arthur W. and Stephen C. Ehrmann (1996) “Implementing the Seven Principles: Technology as a Lever,” AAHE Bulletin, Oct 1996, pp. 3-6

For more information, contact Britt Watwood (828-1896 or bwatwood@vcu.edu).

 

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