Classroom Spotlight
OfflineAlthough, all instructors have been exposed to various techniques to facilitate active discussion, I have benchmarked a few to stimulate more rigorous and in-depth discussion on the weekly topics. These of course are a mix-and-match and based on the class dynamics and situation.
The discussion forum in the online classroom patterns the discussion which occurs in face-to-face classrooms with the exception of there is more time to reflect and contribute. This forum is more than just writing answers to questions, but it is reflecting, sharing experiences, critical thinking and critical connections to reinforce theories and concepts. The discussion forum in many classes can be as much as forty percent of the student's grade and the participation is paramount to the…
OfflineMichael Hixon - Questioning Strategies to Promote Higher Order Thinking
Many times when I post the initial weekly discussion questions, students tend to respond with answers that use the knowledge, comprehension, or application levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. To encourage students to use the analysis synthesis, and evaluation levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, I post follow-up questions to the initial student responses, such as asking students to make judgments about current research in education, and its application in the field.
One effective teaching strategy that I love to use in all of my classes is asking questions within the discussion forums that require students to use higher level thinking skills. Many times when I post the initial weekly discussion questions, students tend to respond with answers that use the knowledge, comprehension, or application levels of Bloom's Taxonomy. To encourage students to use the analysis synthesis, and evaluation levels of Bloom's Taxonomy, I post follow-up questions to the…
OfflineDena AuCoin - Critical Thinking in the Online Classroom
Actively engaging students in critical thinking is at the heart of the questioning process. To foster this process, I must guide and support the learners' critical thinking. There are two essential types of critical thinking strategies I choose to promote: those that enhance the focusing of ideas and those that extend patterns of thought.
The online classroom presents unique challenges for educators. I have found that strengthening my responses in discussions supports a strong classroom community and enhances the level of critical thinking for my students.
Actively engaging students in critical thinking is at the heart of the questioning process. To foster this process, I must guide and support the learners' critical thinking. There are two essential types of critical thinking strategies I choose to promote: those that enhance…
OfflineAs a GCU math teacher, where we have embarked on this strange online adventure of never seeing each other face-to-face, I begin each course with sharing a short online video about myself. I want my students to know there is a real person behind the GCU email address, and that I am not someone who understood all the math I encountered the first time around – or sometimes the second.
When I was a kid, I thought my math teachers were geniuses who instantaneously understood every math topic the first time they saw it. I was never that talented, and I am not now. As a GCU math teacher, where we have embarked on this strange online adventure of never seeing each other face-to-face, I begin each course with sharing a short online video about myself. I want my students to know there is a real person behind the GCU email address, and that I am not someone who understood all the…
OfflineEsmaail Nikjeh - How to Engage Students in the Learning Process (Active Learning)
The Socratic Method is a process of inductive questioning used to successfully lead a person to knowledge through small steps. The chief benefits of this method are that it excites students' curiosity and arouses their thinking, rather than stifling it. It also makes teaching more interesting, because most of the time, we learn more from the students or by what they make us think of than what we knew going into the class.
The Socratic Method is a process of inductive questioning used to successfully lead a person to knowledge through small steps. The chief benefits of this method are that it excites students' curiosity and arouses their thinking, rather than stifling it. It also makes teaching more interesting, because most of the time, we learn more from the students or by what they make us think of than what we knew going into the class.
I use the four types of Socratic questions (engaging, probing,…
OfflineWhile online students never meet with their instructors face to face, there are still ways for faculty to assist students with their learning while building rapport with their students.
While online students never meet with their instructors face to face, there are still ways for faculty to assist students with their learning while building rapport with their students. A common misconception of online education is the faculty members are not available for questions or concerns and are absent from the classroom. As such, it is best to let your students know the best way to contact you. Providing prompt responses to questions allows students to find clarity on the assignments,…
OfflineI encourage my students to use Skype for their CLC assignments. A few students the last two terms have done just that. They loved it so much that they continued using Skye to do their weekly discussion questions. By doing so, they had greater interest and were able to discuss the issues in depth.
Classroom Spotlight Presentation: The CLC, Skype and Google Docs
The technology in today's world is advanced from what it was a few years ago when online courses started to appear in many university's across the nation. I remember when Grand Canyon started to add online courses and we used video taping of expert teachers modeling good teaching at that time. The university encouraged chat rooms as well. Now, many programs, such as…About this channel
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Classroom Spotlight features examples of excellence from GCU classrooms. Please submit your nominations for Classroom Spotlight to [email protected].
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