Limits and Possibilities - digital discussion
As any teacher can tell you, communicating with students and fostering meaningful discussion poses a significant challenge. Instructors need to be able to reach out to students, to receive their questions and concerns, and to disseminate information. But communication modalities change so quickly, especially among students, and our concern for student safety matters so much, that we struggle to find a balance between effective communication and efficient, safe, appropriate communication. When it comes to discussion, the problem is compounded by the need to measure student learning. If discussion modes fail to engage students, then their learning may suffer. Thus, questions around digital methods for communication and engagement touch on many of the core questions in education. Consider 3 potential ways to reach out to students: Online synchronous discussion, email communication, and threaded discussions (through an LMS or email systems like listservs). ONLINE SYNCHRONO...