We expect your learning will be commensurate with the level of dialogue that occurs. The kinds of contributions that make meaningful posts include a) providing accounts of your own experience, b) asking expansive questions - ones with no right or wrong answer - ones to stimulate thinking and lead to deeper understandings, c) building on previous "posts" (whether to agree or disagree) by giving examples, asking sharpening questions, defining issues/terms, d) suggesting metaphors and e) sharing web links and other reference materials. The following chart offers guidelines to your posting. The more to the right you are in your contributions, the better the course will be for everyone. Four Mental Models of Bulletin Board Posting Mental Model Posting Questioning Reflecting/Connecting Dialoguing You post your You are present in You respond to what message as if you You ask questions the discussion - others have said - using were submitting but often they listening, asking their name or quoting an assignment - aren't connected for clarification, them - sharing your Definition often repeating with what others sharing personal experience(s) what has already have said - you experiences, and metaphor(s) to been said - you don't engender a affirming others, further explain your don't respond to response. and extending the viewpoint. others. conversation. on S. Freed, and Reflective Dialogue Online” in New Horizons in Adult Education. “Metaphors It is expected that you will contribute to the discussion board 4 5 times per – week, so make your postings meaningful! IMPORTANT NOTE: At the end of each week, the Discussion Area for that week will close. You will not have another opportunity to post so make sure you follow the schedule carefully and stay with the class.
We expect your learning will be commensurate with the level of dialogue that occurs. The kinds of contributions that make meaningful posts include a) providing accounts of your own experience, b) asking expansive questions - ones with no right or wrong answer - ones to stimulate thinking and lead to deeper understandings, c) building on previous "posts" (whether to agree or disagree) by giving examples, asking sharpening questions, defining issues/terms, d) suggesting metaphors and e) sharing web links and other reference materials. The following chart offers guidelines to your posting. The more to the right you are in your contributions, the better the course will be for everyone. Four Mental Models of Bulletin Board Posting Mental Model Posting Questioning Reflecting/Connecting Dialoguing Definition You post your message as if you were submitting an assignment - often repeating what has already been said - you don't respond to others. You ask questions but often they aren't connected with what others have said - you don't engender a response. You respond to what others have said - using their name or quoting them - sharing your personal experience(s) and metaphor(s) to further explain your viewpoint. You are present in the discussion - listening, asking for clarification, sharing experiences, affirming others, and extending the conversation. on S. Freed, “Metaphors and Reflective Dialogue Online” in New Horizons in Adult Education. It is expected that you will contribute to the discussion board 4 – 5 times per week, so make your postings meaningful! IMPORTANT NOTE: At the end of each week, the Discussion Area for that week will close. You will not have another opportunity to post so make sure you follow the schedule carefully and stay with the class.