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Managing Online Discussions with a Participation Portfolio

Managing Online Discussions with a Participation Portfolio. John Fritz UMBC July 23, 2008. Overview. Background Problem Solution Require a Participation Portfolio Create a “Quality Discussion” Rubric Create a Portfolio Template (MS Word) Influences & Handouts Q & A.

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Managing Online Discussions with a Participation Portfolio

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  1. Managing Online Discussions with a Participation Portfolio John Fritz UMBC July 23, 2008

  2. Overview • Background • Problem • Solution • Require a Participation Portfolio • Create a “Quality Discussion” Rubric • Create a Portfolio Template (MS Word) • Influences & Handouts • Q & A

  3. ADP “Best Practice”

  4. Evolving CMS Use by Faculty • User & Document Management (Pull) • Password-protected class & group space • Attach or Copy/Paste Documents (expiration) • Communications (Push) • Announcements • Email, Messages • Discussion & Chat • Assessments (Push & Pull) • Electronic assignment delivery & collection • Quizzing, Surveys, Course Usage

  5. Online Discussion Assessment Problems • Quantity-Based • How do you avoid rewarding “me too” or “I agree” posts? • Quality-Based • Tedious to find, subjective, a pain to justify to students.

  6. Solution: Self-Graded Portfolio • Instructor defines grading rubric for good post & reply (this is THE hardest task for instructors). • Students propose grade they feel they deserve, based on 3-5 examples of each. • “Evidence” must be taken from separate weeks to avoid end of semester “dog pile.” • Students copy and paste examples into a “portfolio” and submit electronically. • Instructor can accept, raise or lower grade based on quality of evidence based on rubric (#1).

  7. Assignment Upload

  8. Assignment Requirements

  9. Discussion Grading Rubric

  10. Discussion Portfolio Example

  11. Discussion Interaction Types • Student-Content (SC) • Student-Student (SS) • Student-Group (SG)

  12. Student-Content (SC) Type • Aspects • Post a few salient sentences on the topic; • Link posts to course theories, lectures or texts (synthesis & analysis); • Cite new or existing sources whenever possible.

  13. Student-Student (SS) Type • Aspects • Draw out a colleague’s assumptions through probing follow up queries; • Dispute positions with which you do not agree; • Defend your own position with evidence.

  14. Student-Group (SG) Type • Aspects • Provoke thought (not emotions) about a new idea or issue; • Contribute to the civil discourse or edification of the class; • Encourage participation of others.

  15. Fixed Duration for Discussions • Set discussions with fixed start & end • Benefits: • Students will be more proactive (especially if you require a discussion portfolio) • Laggards can’t chime in at the end of semester. • Easier to manage one discussion at a time, than several concurrently.

  16. Testimonial • Chris Swan, Geography • “Improving Student Learning in a Hybrid Course” • 10/10/05 Brown Bag Workshop • “Blackboard Best Practices” • 09/21/07 iTunesU Q&A

  17. ADP Best Practice Use MS Word Form “Portfolio”

  18. Problem • Students struggle with form & content of atypical assignments. • I want to know how students analyze their own discourse and participation. • I want to make most efficient use of my time.

  19. Solution: MS Word Form • Create a form that students complete and submit online. • Benefits: • Guides the student in what you’re looking for; • Standardizes student input which makes grading more efficient;

  20. Portfolio Template

  21. Portfolio Discussion Grade

  22. How to Create MS Word Forms

  23. MS Word Form Toolbar • Options • Text box • Check box • Drop down menu • Form field options • Table • Frames • Shading • Lock (Tip: enable before save/upload so users can download/fill in).

  24. Portfolio Influences “It Takes A Village”

  25. Performance-based Portfolio (2003) • Karin Readel, UMBC Geography Professor • Developed an “extra credit” discussion portfolio for analysis of related articles.

  26. Discussion Forum w/Expiration Dates & Grading Rubric (2005) • Michael Scheuermann, Drexel University • Builds student responsibility for discussions by establishing forum or chat duration “windows” and grading rubrics • 1/13/05 Educause MARC Presentation

  27. Discussion Template (2005) • Chris Swan, UMBC Geography Professor • Developed an MS Word Template to Capture (standardize?) students’ best 3-5 posts for portfolio.

  28. Patricia Verdines, Adjunct Professor, UM CLIS Classified “types” of threaded discussion interactions. 3/31/06 UM TWT Conference Discourse Analysis-based Rubric (2006)

  29. Links • UMBC’s Hybrid Training Program http://www.umbc.edu/oit/hybrid/training • UMBC’s Most Active Bb Courses Reports http://www.umbc.edu/blackboard/reports • Rubristar for Teachers (rubric maker) http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php

  30. Q & A Thanks! John Fritz fritz@umbc.edu or 410.455.6596

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