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First WeJIT-Enhanced Kurt Vonnegut e-Book Released

By Mark Kithcart on May 1, 2013 in ,

Bringing the Vonnegut Commencement Speeches to Life with Technology

Kurt Vonnegut WeJITRosettaBooks and technology solution provider Democrasoft today announced the release of the “WeJIT Enhanced” e-book version of a compilation of master storyteller Kurt Vonnegut’s commencement speeches entitled If This Isn’t Nice, What Is?: Advice for the Young.

The e-book features embedded interactive WeJIT technology, which enables readers to connect with the other readers and even potential readers, directly in the e-book. In the case of the new Vonnegut book, the WeJIT will specifically ask readers to answer the question: “What’s your favorite Kurt Vonnegut quote?” With WeJIT technology, the reader will be able to step into the satirical witticisms and unique perspectives of the iconic author, collected from readers and Vonnegut fans around the world, and to share and discuss these specific quotes with anyone and everyone who is also a fan.

“I was a victim of a series of accidents, as are we all.” – an example of just one “Vonnegutism,” a popular term given by Vonnegut fans  and book readers around the world.

“Kurt Vonnegut was known worldwide for his ‘Vonnegutisms’ and this will give his fans a chance to contribute their favorites,” said Arthur Klebanoff, CEO of RosettaBooks.

According to Democrasoft CEO Richard Lang, “E-books are rapidly evolving and we are excited to be working with RosettaBooks in this exciting project. It will be fun to watch and read what Kurt Vonnegut fans around the world come up with, using the embedded WeJIT to collect and share their favorite Vonnegut quotes and perspectives.”

While the “What’s your favorite Kurt Vonnegut quote?” WeJIT contained in the new “WeJIT Enhanced” e-book is a unique e-book feature, anyone with Internet access, even those who don’t yet have the e-book, can join the Vonnegut discussion right now at www.mywejit.com/#!vonnegut. This link can also be shared on all social media platforms, as well as with email.

William Gladstone, founder of Waterside Productions, Inc., the exclusive agency representing WeJITs to the publishing industry commented, “The use of WeJITs with Vonnegut e-books is precisely the reason our firm has invested in bringing awareness of WeJITs to publishers and authors. For the future of book publishing it is essential that digital books take advantage of the ability to create community and discoverability. The WeJIT does both. Readers will be able to use the WeJITs not just to enhance their own reading experience but to become part of the Vonnegut community.” For more information about WeJITs Please go to: http://www.waterside.com/agency/wejit-for-publishers/

This post is an excerpt from the Press Release that was published on May 1, 2013.  Find out more about WeJITs at http://www.mywejit.com

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Teachers K-12: Earn Graduate-Level Professional Development University Credit for work you are already doing

By Mark Kithcart on February 2, 2013 in ,

Guest Post by Karin Alexander,

As Executive Director of Course4Teachers, It has been a passion of mine to help teachers get credit for all the extra work they do.

The time we invest as educators to ensure success to our students goes beyond a typical 8 to 5 day. I have been exploring and developing ways to help teachers get paid for the extra work they are already doing in reading, researching, and incorporating new ideas and new technology into their curriculum.

Learning about Collaborize Classroom, a free online collaborative education platform that allows students and teachers to engage in an online collaborative learning environment, inspired me to develop a program that offers teachers using Collaborize Classroom a process to receive Graduate-Level Professional Development University Credit which will help them advance on the salary scale.

This program has been very exciting as it gives teachers a process to earn university credit, increase their salary, and deliver an interactive learning environment to their students.

Are you looking for ways to increase your salary for the professional work you are already doing?

Please visit www.courses4teachers.net/collaborize-and-courses4teachers/ and share with me your valuable input on this program and approach.

About Karin Alexander – CEO/Executive Director, Courses4Teachers: Karin is a native San Franciscan, a Lowell High School graduate. She graduated cum laude from UCLA, majoring in Education and Sociology. Karin has been a dedicated classroom teacher as well as a teacher of teachers. As a classroom teacher for over 30 years, Karin taught all grade levels, special needs and gifted programs. She has twice been awarded the title of Teacher of the Year. She is nationally published, an acclaimed motivational public speaker, and is regarded as an educational course pioneer, developing over 300 practical and innovative educational K-12 courses and programs praised by universities across the nation. Karin is also a respected political leader on educational issues that promote respect for teachers. Her name is synonymous with integrity, trust, and honoring teachers for all the extra work they do.

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Three questions for WeJITs… What? Who? How? Democrasoft Interviewed by Tools of Change – Joe Wikert

By Mark Kithcart on October 19, 2012 in , ,

As educators we know the benefits of technology, the power of collaboration, and the value of literature. How these can be combined is now explained:

Early last week Joe Wikert  (Tools of Change; O’Reilly Media) interviewed Democrasoft’s CEO, Richard Lang, and asked 3 questions regarding a new “portable” collaboration technology called the WeJIT, brought to you by Collaborize Classroom’s parent company, Democrasoft Inc.

This blog post from Wikert explains what a WeJIT is, and how WeJITs can help e-publishers and authors create dynamic, topic-based discussions around specific content in any e-book.

If you’re an author, a blogger or just an occasional writer, we hope you’ll be as inspired as we are about the potential to WeJITs to help you build communities around your individual ideas and topics, while helping you spread the word across all social platform.  For more information, we encourage you to read Wikert’s blog post and also visit http://www.mywejit.com.

 

 

 

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Collaborize Classroom PRO Released For iPad

By Mark Kithcart on April 12, 2012 in , ,

Students Can Now Participate on the New iPad Optimized App

Collaborize Classroom Mobile AppApril 12, 2012, Santa Rosa, CA — Democrasoft, Inc., (OTC: Pinksheets: DEMO) today announced the worldwide release and immediate availability of its Collaborize Classroom PRO™ iPad app in Apple’s App Store. This special “optimized-for-iPad” app was designed to address the fast-growing adoption of the iPad by students and teachers.

Students can now participate in online discussions in their Collaborize Classrooms using an iPhone, iPod Touch, or the specially optimized iPad app, and can collaborate online with their classmates on-the-go, anywhere and anytime. Students complement their in-class learning with online topic-based lessons created by their teachers or by other teachers around the globe who have shared lessons via the Collaborize Classroom™ Topic Library (http://library.collaborizeclassroom.com/).

According to Democrasoft Chairman & CEO Richard Lang, “Because of size of display, the iPad app is better than the iPhone app for consuming the multitude of lessons that have already been created for students on the Collaborize Classroom learning platform. This iPad version, at only 99 cents, will greatly increase student access to these lessons, especially for students who can’t afford a computer, while improving the visual and user experience.”

According to AppleInsider, “The launch of the new iPad shows sales of Apple’s tablet are ramping at an accelerated rate of 156 percent year over year, putting them in a position to become “measurably larger” than the PC market as a whole.” Apple is predicted to sell 12.2 million tablets by the end of this quarter and the iPad has already become a teaching tool with the development of thousands of learning applications.”

The app is another powerful extension of the Collaborize Classroom platform, which provides the ability to extend in-class conversations and discussions to a private and secure online site and to students’ personal mobile devices. Coupled with the Collaborize Classroom Topic Library, teachers now have a soup-to-nuts solution to find peer-reviewed, topic-based lessons and deploy them to their students with just a few clicks.

The App can be found in the Apple App Store (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/collaborize-classroom-pro/id512701825?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2).

* iPhone, iPad, iPad Touch and Apple App Store are all trademarks of Apple, Inc.

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Top 10 Reasons that Blended Learning is Worth the Hype!

By Mark Kithcart on March 8, 2012 in

This is a partial re-post of an article by Catlin Tucker from her blog at CatlinTucker.com

Image from learningonlineinfo.org

Using an online learning platform, online discussions, and/or work online to complement your class can:

1. Save Time

Teachers spend hours each week creating, copying, collating, stapling, and hole punching handouts, assignments and activity sheets for students. Much of this time is eliminated when a teacher transitions to an online education platform where handouts can be uploaded and attached to questions, topics and assignment descriptions.

2. Save Money

Copy machines, ink, paper and repairs cost school districts thousands of dollars annually (monthly for some larger districts). Most school sites spend between five to nine cents per copy. My school district currently spends seven cents a copy, which means one handout for each of my 164 students costs $11.50.

In less fortunate districts, teachers are forced to spend hundreds— if not thousands – of dollars of their own money to supplement classroom resources.

Teachers can save money and paper by posting assignments, directions, notes, reading materials online. This also helps those “organizationally challenged” students who tend to lose or misplace everything handed to them. All information is in one easily accessed place.

3. Spend Less Time Grading

Online discussions and collaborative group work free teachers from their role as the only source of information and feedback. When students engage in dynamic online discussions, they become valued resources in the class. They ask each other clarifying questions, compliment strong ideas, provide suggestions for improvement, and offer alternative perspectives. This also creates for improved student engagement and immediate peer feedback.

It is easy to eliminate worksheets that have limited potential to inspire, when students are actively participating in dynamic online discussions related to the curriculum.

4. Spend More Time in Class Doing What You Love

With less time spent in copy centers and grading paperwork, teachers can focus on designing innovative learning opportunities that employ the limitless resources available on the Internet. The classroom can become a more student-centered environment because there is less pressure to cover all the content in the physical classroom. The online space can be used to introduce information or allow students a place to have conversations about that information. This allows more flexibility in the classroom because students can spend more time working in collaborative groups to do creative tasks related to the subject matter.

5. Increase One-On-One Interactions with Students

Teachers can use online tools to engage in conversations with students they may not normally have. Some students are shy or anxious about speaking with a teacher in class; however, online discussions provide students easy access to one another and their teacher. They can post questions and get answers outside the confines of a normal school day, in a setting familiar to them.

6. Provide Students Opportunities to Practice Standardized Exams Online

Most teachers do not want to spend valuable in-class time drilling students on standardized exam questions. Teachers recognize test preparation as necessary in this era of high stakes standardized exams, but most can’t afford to spend much precious class time on test preparation activities.

Instead, they can use collaborative online education platforms, like Collaborize Classroom, that offer multiple question types to facilitate test practice for students. It provides a space for them to work together to develop stronger test taking strategies and skills.

7. Facilitate Group Work That Works

Any teacher who has facilitated a group work assignment in class knows the frustration of time wasted.  Online collaborative group work allows students the flexibility to participate asynchronously when they have time, and eliminates wasted time in class. Technology also creates transparency because it is easier to see who has done what, making the work online more equitable. This work can then be woven back into the classroom where students can present to their peers about work done online.

8. Communicate More Effectively with All Students

Collaborize Classroom and many other online learning platforms have built-in message systems that make it possible for teachers to communicate with individual students or groups of students easily. Teachers can make announcements, amend assignments, change due dates, and address questions using the message option – without having to wait until the next school day.

Teachers who are inclined can also arrange “virtual office hours” using Skype, Google Hangout, or other real time chat tools, to support students outside the classroom.

9. Build Community and Relationships

Teachers can use the online space to build student relationships. Online icebreakers are a fun way to get students talking, using each other’s names and practicing online etiquette. These fun informal conversations translate into a stronger in-class community. This is one of the blended learning benefits that I personally have experienced, much to my satisfaction and delight.

10. Have Fun

The Internet gives teachers access to more information than ever before. Most educational platforms allow teachers to embed pictures, videos, PDFs and documents making it easy to take the best online resources and present them in the safe space of your online learning platform.

 

Catlin Tucker is an English teacher at Windsor High School and has worked in Sonoma County for nine years.  She is currently on sabbatical writing her first book– Blended Learning for Grades 4-12: Leverage Technology to Create a Student-Centered Classroom– to be published June 2012 by Corwin Publishing. Catlin has taught high school English and online college research writing courses through Axia College.

In addition to writing, she is leading professional development online and in person, designing curriculum and support resources, and speaking at EdTech events (CUE, Ohio Tech, FETC, ISTE, etc.) all over the country on subjects related to blended learning.

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First Collaborize Classroom Mobile App is Officially Released

By Mark Kithcart on March 6, 2012 in ,

Collaborize Classroom Mobile AppDemocrasoft announced today the worldwide release and immediate availability of its free Collaborize Classroom mobile app in the Apple App Store.* Students can now participate in online discussions in their Collaborize Classrooms using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Students can collaborate online with their classmates on-the-go, anywhere and anytime.

According to Nielsen’s “Generation App” report, adoption of smart phones by young adults increased 50% between the end of 2010 and the end 2011. Approximately 40% of students 13-18 use smart phones, and that percentage is growing quickly. Following that trend, teachers have reported that students have been accessing their Collaborize Classroom sites via web browsers on their smart phones since the release of Collaborize Classroom early last year. This new development makes it even easier for them to collaborate before, during, and after the bell rings, on the dedicated mobile app – the new feature most requested by teachers in 2011.

According to Democrasoft Chairman & CEO Richard Lang, “It’s very gratifying to provide access to our award-winning online collaboration platform on the world’s most popular mobile devices. Almost 1.4 million individual topic-based lessons have already been delivered to students on the Collaborize Classroom learning platform. This mobile version will increase student access to these lessons by orders of magnitude, especially for students who can’t afford a computer, but who do have a smart phone or other mobile device.”

The mobile app is a powerful extension of the Collaborize Classroom platform, which provides the ability to extend in-class conversations to a private and secure online site and to students’ personal mobile devices. Coupled with the Collaborize Classroom Topic Library, teachers now have a soup-to-nuts solution to find peer-reviewed, topic-based lessons and deploy them to their students with just a few clicks. In addition, Democrasoft announced that, in a few weeks, it will release a version of the mobile app that will be optimized for the larger iPad display.

The Collaborize Classroom mobile participation app can be found in the Apple App Store and downloaded from here – http://bit.ly/wxxFhI

* iPhone, iPad, iPad Touch and Apple App Store are all trademarks of Apple, Inc.

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Free Blended Learning Certification Workshop at Van Meter

By Mark Kithcart on February 14, 2012 in

Blended LearningPlease join the Collaborize Classroom team, in partnership with Shannon M. Miller (Teacher Librarian & Technology Integrationist)  and John C. Carver (Superintendent of Schools) at Van Meter Schools, for a free Blended Learning Certification Workshop on February 25th, 2012.

 

Register now as space is limited – click this link http://blendedlearningvanmeter.eventbrite.com/

Regardless of which learning platform or LMS a teacher uses, this workshop is designed to support them in effectively integrating technology to engage students in collaborative online activities, assignments and discussions that increase participation and improve engagement both inside and outside of the classroom.

  • Award participants a professional development certification that reflects their commitment to innovative and effective instructional practices.
  • Provide high quality training led by teachers who have successfully transitioned to a blended learning model.
  • Create opportunities for teachers to explore new approaches to teaching using technology that will save time and improve learning outcomes for students.

Learn now and use immediately in the classroom to engage students.

All educators who can make it to this valuable free workshop on February 25th are invited.

The workshop will cover:

  • Creating a safe space online
  • Teaching students to say something substantial
  • Building an online community
  • Flipping the classroom
  • Designing questions that drive dynamic discussions
  • Weaving together the two instructional mediums – in-class and online.

Each educator who attends this day-long free professional development course will be mailed a certification of completion.

Please visit  http://blendedlearningvanmeter.eventbrite.com/ for a full agenda and to sign up for the free Blended Learning Certification Workshop at Van Meter.

LOCATION:

Van Meter Elementary School
520 1st Ave
Van Meter, IA 50261-7706
Saturday, February 25, 2012 from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM (PT)
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Democrasoft and TregoED Announce K12 Partnership

By Shana Ray on February 7, 2012 in , ,

Democrasoft, Inc., creator of the award-winning online discussion platform, Collaborize Classroom, and TregoED, creator of the award-winning SCAN critical thinking tools, today announced that they are joining forces to advance K12 education through the development and dissemination of critical thinking and online discussion technology.

Educational Technology

New national learning standards, known as the Common Core State Standards, require that students develop critical thinking and communication skills in order to be ready for both college and for future careers. Through the partnership announced today, Democrasoft and TregoED will provide free educator resources, free professional development for teachers, and free online topic-based lessons focused on teaching higher-level thinking skills, respect for different points-of-view, and effective in-person and online conversation skills.

“We are enthusiastic about the formation of a strategic alliance with TregoED,” said Richard Lang, CEO of Democrasoft and co-creator of Collaborize Classroom. “TregoED‘s SCAN critical thinking tools fit hand-in-glove with our online collaborative education platform. Teachers will now be able to launch topic-based discussions that specifically prepare students for SCAN lessons, as well as follow-on topics that solidify and expand upon what they learn during the SCAN activity.”

According to Kathryn Blackburn, Executive Director of TregoED, “We are excited about the synergy our partnership will create for students. Using Collaborize Classroom to front load information and reinforce SCAN activities with writing activities will increase the rigor and relevance of the lessons, as well as help students learn better decision-making skills.“

To access the latest free SCAN topics, visit: http://library.collaborizeclassroom.com/#!/profile/TregoED.

Educational Technology Collaborize Classroom and TregoED announced that they will both be at the Texas Computer Education Association 2012 Conference in Austin, Texas from February 6th through February 10th. TCEA has over 9,000 educators, technology coordinators and education industry insiders attending each year.

Collaborize Classroom will be in the TCEA exhibit hall at booth #2568 and will host free blended learning professional development sessions in room M8 (second floor).  Featured presenters include: Catlin Tucker (Award-winning High School English Teacher and Author), Colt Briner (Co-Creator of Collaborize Classroom), and Sandra Wozniak (Retired Teacher, Curriculum Specialist with TregoED), among others. Find the full schedule here: http://www.collaborizeclassroom.com/blog/professional-development-at-tcea/.

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Professional Development at TCEA

By Shana Ray on February 6, 2012 in , ,

The Collaborize Classroom team will be at the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) Conference in Austin, Texas this week. We can be found in the exhibit hall downstairs at booth 2658, as well as upstairs in a special professional development room with free PD sessions for all educators attending TCEA!  You’ll also want to stop by to get a Starbucks card when you answer a few easy questions. Free Resources for Educators

Booth 2658 (left side of the exhibit hall, just past Lego Education) –  We’ll have complimentary resources and swag, plus we can set you up with the new mobile app (it won’t cost you a cent) and give you a sneak peak at exciting new features that are coming soon to Collaborize Classroom.

Free PD Sessions in Room M8 (second floor) – All day on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we will be hosting exclusive professional development sessions for educators looking to learn more about blended learning, common core state standards, educational technology and engaging students – both online and in-class.  There is limited room and these sessions will fill up fast so be sure to get signed up at booth 2658.

Featured Presenters Include:

Professional Development for Teachers

Catlin Tucker

  • Author of an upcoming blended learning book. High School English teacher, curriculum designer and frequent edtech speaker   @CTuckerEnglish

Colt Briner:

  • Co-Creator of Collaborize Classroom and former ESL and Substitute teacher  @WisdomofWe

Susanna Garza

  • Coordinator of Instructional Technology, digital resources and career & technical education at Education Service Center, ESC Region 20 in San Antonio, TX    @ESCRegion20

Kenneth Jones

  • 8th Grade Literary Arts Facilitator, Spring Middle School   @Eduheretic

Sandra Wozniak

  • Retired Teacher, Curriculum Specialist with TregoED   @SanWoz

Wednesday Schedule:

    9:30-10:15: 7 Steps to Successful Online Discussions by Catlin Tucker

    Transform traditional classes into dynamic learning communities with online discussions that will improve discourse, increase participation and engage higher level thinking skills. Attendees will learn strategies and receive resources to support them in: 1) creating a safe space online, 2) building an online community, 3) asking quality questions, 4) supporting students in saying something substantial, 5) defining a realistic role for themselves, 6) having fun with multimedia, & 7) weaving online work into the classroom.

    10:45-11:30: Don’t Just Flip Your Classroom, Transform It by Catlin Tucker

    Flip your instruction! Present content online for students to view and discuss. Use class time to create student-centered learning opportunities that encourage communication and collaboration! Learn how mobile devices and QR codes can be used to amplify curiosity and engage students.

    LUNCH  (and Q&A time) 

    12:30-1:15: Fighting Engagement Deficit Disorder with Blended Instruction by Catlin Tucker

    Re-engage students who have mentally checked out with these fun instructional strategies that blend work done online with the work done in the classroom to effectively put students in the center of the learning process. Your students are technology natives, so use technology to maximize their interest and appeal to their senses. Discover how online discussions, flipping your instruction, using mobile devices and assigning creative projects online can excite curiosity and increase engagement while teaching communication and collaboration skills.

    1:45-2:30: If Socrates Had the Internet  by Colt Briner

    Inspire higher-level thinking and encourage students to articulate a strong position on an issue or topic. Get creative and meaningful engagement from your students using the Socratic method.  The asynchronous nature of online discussions provides perfect platform for every student to have a valued voice in the class dialogue.  Learn techniques today that you can use tomorrow.

    3:00-3:45: Safe, Structured, and Free Online Book Clubs by Ken Jones, Spring Forest Middle School

    Create a culture of reading in your class and on your campus. Encourage students to read for pleasure, begin a thoughtful dialogue about literature, provide students with an opportunity to think critically and practice reading strategies. Join us to learn how you can effectively teach digital citizenship, build relationships and engage more students with an online book club.

    Thursday Schedule:

    9:30-10:15: 7 Steps to Successful Online Discussions  by Catlin Tucker

    Transform traditional classes into dynamic learning communities with online discussions that will improve discourse, increase participation and engage higher level thinking skills. Attendees will learn strategies and receive resources to support them in: 1) creating a safe space online, 2) building an online community, 3) asking quality questions, 4) supporting students in saying something substantial, 5) defining a realistic role for themselves, 6) having fun with multimedia, & 7) weaving online work into the classroom.

    10:45-11:30: Don’t Just Flip Your Classroom, Transform It by Catlin Tucker

    Flip your instruction! Present content online for students to view and discuss. Use class time to create student-centered learning opportunities that encourage communication and collaboration! Learn how mobile devices and QR codes can be used to amplify curiosity and engage students.

    LUNCH (and Q&A time) 

    12:30-1:15: Students Write More and You Grade Less with Online Discussions by Catlin Tucker

    Do you want your students to write more, but don’t know how you would grade it all? Use online discussions and group collaboration to support a variety of writing assignments and spend a fraction of the time grading. Learn how to use your Collaborize Classroom site to get students writing more to address the Core Common Standards across the curriculum: English, history, science and math!

    1:45-2:30: STAAR Success for Digital Learners: Secondary English and Social Studies by Suzzana Garza

    Make the transition to STAAR easier with online discussions. Address readiness and supporting standards using Collaborize Classroom to drive 21st century learning. Teach technology and media literacy while providing students more opportunities to develop their reading, writing, communication, critical thinking and problem solving skills. More effectively prepare your students for life beyond high school!

    3:00-3:45: Reach for the STAARs with Engaging Online Discussions! by Sandra Wozniak

    Discover the synergy created when using engaging online discussion platforms to get your students thinking and writing across the curriculum.  Use 21st century skills and higher order thinking questions to increase the depth of understanding and quality of student writing without increasing your workload.

    Friday Schedule:

    8:00 – 9:00 Generation Linked: Collaborative Tools Reach the Core by Sandra Wozniak

    Join our workshop featuring the ISTE Technology Innovation Award winning lesson, “Who Owns History,” utilizing a number of collaborative web tools such as SCAN, Collaborative Classroom, Wallwisher, etc.  Learn how teachers developed and implemented this lesson integrating LA and social studies to reach the TEK Standards and how you can use these tools in your classroom. Lessons, links, resources and free trial subscription provided.

    10:15-11:15 SCAN: 4 Steps to Better Writing by Sandra Wozniak

    SCAN is a proven critical thinking strategy used to develop a better understanding of complex issues in social studies, science or literature.  In this workshop, participants will learn the four step strategy and how to use the online SCAN tool and other web 2.0 tools to help students become better thinkers and better writers.  Lessons, links, and resources provided.

    Our Product Development Manager, Bill Takacs, will be giving out Starbucks cards in the PD Room as well. All you have to do is tell him how we can improve Collaborize Classroom and build a better product for you!

    Don’t miss the following opportunities to learn, collaborate and engage with us and fellow educators.  We look forward to seeing you there!

     

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Rethinking the Role of a Teacher

By Shana Ray on January 31, 2012 in , ,

When planning homework assignments, teachers can choose to be a silent moderator or an involved participant in discussions depending on his or her objectives. There are benefits to each style of moderation, and it is important that each individual teacher construct a clear role for their involvement in the online forum so students know what to expect during online discussions.

Resources for Teachers

Here are some tips for educators to help rethink the role of teachers:

Teachers as Silent Moderators

A teacher who uses online discussions to compliment and extend in-class curriculum may choose to be a silent moderator by limiting his or her involvement to posting questions for students to discuss. This role allows students the opportunity to take charge of the discussion and, subsequently, their own discovery of knowledge.

Teachers who choose not to actively engage in the discussions can take the information, insights, ideas, etc. presented in the online forum and weave them into classroom discussions and activities. [For more on this read “Weaving the Online Discussions Into the Classroom.”] By restricting the teacher role to that of a silent moderator, the teacher does not filter or determine the direction of the discussion. Instead, students are allowed to engage freely in dialogue with their peers.

Tasks of a silent moderator include:

  • Posting questions that will drive higher-level thinking and engage students in dynamic discussions.
  • Reading student responses in a timely manner to ensure the tone of the conversation stays respectful.
  • Removing any postings that are not conducive to maintaining a safe online environment, then communicating with students via individual messages or email to ensure future adherence to established expectations.
  • Responding to student questions and concerns via email or individual messages.
  • Actively referring to and drawing from online discussions while in class to ensure students see the value of their discussion in relation to curriculum.
  • Using the participation report each week to ensure all students are participating in the online discussion according to set expectations.

Teachers as Involved Participants

A teacher who plans to use the online environment to build on concepts or content introduced in class may choose to be an involved participant by regularly engaging in the discussion. This role allows the teacher to steer the direction of the dialogue to ensure that the conversations stay focused on particular aspects of the curriculum. The teacher also has the freedom to model online etiquette, ask follow-up questions, compliment student responses and clarify confusions.

The teacher who chooses to be an involved facilitator must be careful not to over power the discussion or post an overwhelming number of responses. It can be helpful for an involved facilitator to limit his or her responses to the same number of responses required of his or her students each week. This will also alleviate the burden of feeling that the facilitator must respond to each student or each discussion thread.

Tasks of an involved facilitator include:

  • Posting questions that will drive higher-level thinking and engage students in dynamic discussions.
  • Reading student responses in a timely manner to ensure the conversation stays on track and tone stays respectful.
  • Responding to strong postings with complementary feedback, asking follow up questions that redirect the conversation, encouraging more depth in student responses, playing devil’s advocate, clarifying confusions, offering insights, etc.
  • Removing any postings that are not conducive to maintaining the safe space, then using the incidence as a teachable moment where safe space expectations are revisited.
  • Answering student questions in the online forum so all students can benefit from the answer.
  • Actively referring to and drawing from online discussions while in class to ensure students see the value of their discussion in relation to curriculum.
  • Using the participation report each week to ensure all students are participating in the online discussion according to set expectations.

Keep the Classroom Thriving

To maximize student involvement, the involved facilitator should:

  • Limit commentary. Do not be overly involved in the discussion.
  • Allow the students to reach conclusions on their own, even if it takes time. Do not be the source of “right answers.”
  • Keep positive feedback specific, genuine and authentic. Avoid generic or vague compliments.
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