Beyond Discussion Posts: Creating an Interactive Learning Experience into Weekly Discussions

This session will explore how we can use creativity in weekly discussion posts. The presenters will examine the current format and how we can make these weekly student requirements into an enriching interactive experience. In the online format the discussion board has typically been the center of learning and student interaction, with an initial post and follow up post to peers. Often times, students do the bare minimum and might not gain the experience that students in other formats engage in. This presentation seeks to go beyond the typical asynchronous discussion board format to create an environment where students can engage in activities that simulate more of an application and manipulation of the material both individually and working with their peers. The presenters will discuss ideas that they have used or are incorporating into their classroom environments to develop an enriching and different experience than many students in the online format have had in the past. Through the use of technology and creativity, the presenters’ aim in the classroom is to create a student-centered environment, where active learning is encouraged.