Achieving highly productive online discussions in blended learning environments

This
seminar outlines the development and testing of an instructional design
framework for producing highly productive online discussions in a blended
learning environment. Although the
discussion activity has great potential for student engagement and knowledge
construction, in most course implementations it usually fails to deliver. The facilitator will describe the design
conditions required to create a successful discussion, and review a study done
at HKU comparing the results of a course using this discussion framework to the
same course using a conventional discussion activity design. This seminar will also introduce a new type
of qualitative measurement which graphically illustrates the depth and dynamics
of an online discussion. Finally, the
facilitator will demonstrate how these participation-based discussions are
integrated into the design of an eLearning course to effectively utilize a
1-to-1 laptop environment.

This is a
CITE/TEL@HKU Seminar presented as part of the Earmarked TDG project for 4-Year
Undergraduate Curriculum Reform "Building Communities of Good Practices in
Using ICT in the Curriculum".