There was an interesting discussion in my class today that had me thinking about the pros and cons of online communication and the potential impacts of increasingly digital social interactions.
Lately I have tried to incorporate some learnings from OLTD 503 into my current teaching practice. I have been created some mini modules in our Canvas learning management system that make use of video explanations, both in an effort to humanize the course (Pacansky-Brock), and to support learners who are in different stages in their literacy development. I have also included discussion boards to encourage peer to peer interactions outside of class (eventually). Today we continued working on a shared novel study. I read a chapter aloud, we reviewed summarizing which we had talked about and practiced last class using a discussion board to post, then provide feedback to others on their summaries, then a couple of students volunteered to help me write a summary for today’s section. Afterwards, we looked at a new piece of our reader’s response - analyzing. I explained and shared examples as well as a few possible sentence starters before passing out paper and having the students write instead of type their responses. The majority did it, and in looking over their shoulders I could see they were on the right track. Then, I asked for some people to share. Crickets. I even called on a few specific students, but they said they’d rather not. So, I asked if they’d prefer to post on the discussion board and have others respond to them that way. They said yes. Interesting. We are a small group, already in a room together, we’ve known each other for over five months, and verbal sharing and responses would only have taken a few minutes; yet the students would prefer to take more time to set up the computers and type (in this case also having to rewrite) their responses. “Why?”, I asked. Several responses were the same, “because then people don’t have to stare at me while I’m talking.” I thought this was interesting. I wasn’t expecting that response. The students can be a chatty group otherwise, yet the informal conversation level of comfort does not seem to transfer over to academic discussions. Perhaps they feel like there is a greater expectation, or a little more on the line? I let the students get out computers and within ten minutes several posts had been made and peer responses were starting to come in. For me this really made me think about the importance of balance and connected well to the ongoing conversations that we have been having in OLTD 503 about the merits of using social media in our classrooms. Using online communication tools can absolutely support student learning, and some tools such as discussion boards can help to build community online. Should these be able to take the place of face to face communication and an in-person sense of community? I don’t think so. I haven’t figured out the answers yet to how best to design a blended learning program, or when it may be best to take a step back from technology rather than leaning in to it, but this experience has brought these questions to the forefront of my mind. Based on what I’ve learned so far, I think the trick really is to figure out the balance and support students in learning the skills to navigate both the online and physical world. Discovering the perfect balance will have to be a continuing goal. Reference: Pacansky-Brock, M. How to humanize your online classes. Retrieved from https://brocansky.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Humanize-Infog-Letter-Size-for-Printing.pdf
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