Project RITE
Recipients
Enhancing Student Discussion Board Participation
in Online Professional Development Courses
Duren Thompson
Program Coordinator, Center for Literacy Studies, UT KnoxvilleOverview
Clark & Mayer (2008), note that collaborative learning tools, such as discussion boards, lack a conclusive research base showing a direct relationship to learning gains. Research into specific techniques for increasing collaboration, student involvement, and active learning in online learning environments, as well as their direct effect on learning gains, should benefit all who participate in delivering learning online. With the University of Tennessee’s increasing commitment to technologically enhanced learning and also budgetary constraints, simple, inexpensive methods for increasing the effectiveness of online learning should be of significant value. The Center for Literacy Studies is receiving increased requests for professional development delivered at a distance. Inexpensive methods shown to increase the effectiveness of online learning will be of value to both funders and adult educator participants.Will student participation on discussion boards, within an exclusively online professional development course, be enhanced (quantity and/or quality) by an increased sense of community built via a) the sharing of course participant photos, b) an introductory synchronous web meeting, and c) the inclusion of assignments phrased to promote online discussion (based on research)?