Spring 2022 #1

Takeaways from Edutopia article:

1) Discussion boards can help prepare students for the digital workforce they may face after graduating. It also allows for opportunities to learn proper digital etiquette when interacting with peers.

2) Discussion boards can lead to student led learning, even if the discussion prompts are provided.

3) Some students may elaborate on answers and their true feelings when grades are not connected to the discussion boards

Heather Carr

Before I provide my takeaways, I want to say the aesthetic of Linoit is very late 90s/early-00s. Love it!

Takeaway #1: Digital discussion tools, like this one, provide a low-stakes opportunity for students to demonstrate understanding. I like the notion of ungraded checks for understanding as a means of reducing grade inflation and/or deflation during the learning process.

Takeaway #2: We live in a digital world; learning how to use digital tools is essential for workplace participation.

Takeaway #3: Digital spaces (like this one) provide an avenue for the introverted student to share their thoughts without having to (at least initially) literally share their voice.

Catie Page

3 Takeaways from Edutopia Article

1. Teachers needing to teach how to agree/disagree and comment that in a correct way is something so simple but yet I feel is an important step that is skipped over when trying to use discussion boards (especially in the classroom). Students need to know that it is okay to not agree with someone but being able to articulate that in correctly in writing is an important step that will spill over into other parts of their lives.

2. Discussion boards can be implemented in a variety of ways that will deepen understanding of content for students. When they are applying the skills in real life for example a bell ringer that is focused on a skill used in their reading curriculum, forces the student to not only know what that standard is but requires them to use it.

3. I think they are a great way for a teacher to see which students understood/applied the concept without having to give it a number grade.

Tera Kennedy

Takeaways

1. I have always been a big fan of discussion boards, especially as an ELA teacher. They offer a variety of avenues for discussion on a specific topic or text.

2. I also think discussion boards done consistently help students learn how to express their ideas and opinions. It gives them an outlet to tell their stories and be heard in a respectful environment.

3. I also think that discussion boards done regularly help students writing ability. In the beginning, students are more prone to use it like texting. I feel that the more this is done and a routine is established, the better students will do with the discussion board answers and class discussion.

1. Disscussion boards don't have to be graded. Students can feel free to speak their mind and not try to answer the way they think the teacher wants them to.

2. Discussion boards can be used as a review before an exam.

3. Discussion boards are great for students leading their own learning.

Amy Burger

Takeaways:

1. Online discussion boards are the next "big thing" in education. Especially after the pandemic, all of us are looking for ways to make class more interactive without losing effectiveness.

2. Eliminating discussion posts as grades can potentially ease anxiety. I think it could also encourage social-emotional wellbeing as well.

3. It allows students to see themselves progress throughout the course. If done consistently, growth should be demonstrated from beginning to end.

Janée Gray

Dustin Smith

1 - Online discussion boards help 21st century learners understand proper online etiquette. There is a proper and appropriate way to disagree with someone online.

2 - The use of question stems are a great way to launch students into a student led discussion. This provides extra levels of flexibility in the classroom.

3 - Discussion boards are a great way to measure levels of understanding without being attached to a numeric value. They also leave a digital footprint that can serve well as a review tool.

3 Takeaways from EduTopia Article

1- Putting the value of the activity above the grade- making sure that students know what they learn and how they learn weighs more than a grade they could receive.

2- Discussion boards take students through an ever changing technology world. Students need more than basic skills of PowerPoint and Word to be successful in college and post secondary education. Giving them an opening to learn in different ways and interact in different ways allows the students to grow their skills and demonstrate learning in different ways.

3- What a great way for students to build their own portfolio of notes to review.

Charlotte Beck

3 takeaways

1 Discussion boards are a great interactive tool for students to chat with each other and learn etiquette and how to respond to each other.

2-They are vey student led since they can take over the conversation, in a good way. The teacher can provide the stem, but the students often take it to other levels.

3-They can be a fun way to interact that is not high stakes. Teaches can make them more of a participation grade instead of high stakes.

LESSYE ASHWORTH

Allison Day

1. Through recurrent use of discussion boards combined with direct teaching, students learn proper digital etiquette as in how to disagree respectfully, as well as media literacy.

2. I love the idea of not tying a "number" to discussion board responses. This makes is a safe space for students to be honest and make mistakes, and it helps make it truly student-led.

3. This is a great way to determine background knowledge on a topic, or gauge student interest to drive instruction.

Takeaways:

1. Eliminating the grade for a discussion can eliminate the anxiety that some students feel with other written assignments and lead to richer responses.

2. Student growth over time can be seen and reviewed by thinking of discussion boards as portfolios of student evolution over time.

3. The discussion boards take time to develop expected norms but once developed and reinforced, students seem to provide thoroughly developed responses.

Jessica Simmers

Takeaways from Edutopia Article

1. Boudreau provides four benefits to using digital discussions in her classroom: digital discussion boards are interactive, foster student-led learning, don't have to be grade-based, and can act as a digital portfolio.

2. Boudreau mentions that the use of digital discussion boards help to foster skills that students will likely need in future jobs. I think this is probably true - being able to utilize digital tools and interact with others online is a skill that is utilized more and more in workplace environments. With using digital discussion boards, students are practicing many skills needed to be successful in today's workforce.

3. I appreciate Boudreau's last two ideas about not needing to grade discussions and the use of discussions as a digital portfolio. I would likely give students a completion grade for completing digital discussions - I want my students to share their ideas and not be afraid of giving a "wrong" answer. So as long as a student shares something, they'll earn full credit. I also like the idea of being able to go back through each discussion as an opportunity to review for quizzes, tests, or the end of course test.

Shannon Willaert

1: Discussion Boards can be used with different goals in mind. for example, share notes among students on class material, discuss material currently studying and/or for students to reflect on their current experiences

2: DBs allow students to express themselves independently and in a way others will understand

3. When posting, students need to provide details about their information that allows the reader to fully understand to respond - negotiate meaning

Takeaways from Article 4:

1: Discussion boards provide a space for students to be comfortable with expression, learn appropriate social skills for responses, collaborating with peers, whether agreeing or disagreeing, and allows for students to receive valuable feedback or a different perspective.

2:Teachers and students can use discussion boards to engage in learning without being held to a grade. This provides a stress free, anxiety free platform to state their true feelings.

3:Students are able to review or go back to look at information from start to finish. It is a vault of information that would not necessarily be readily available in a typical review guide.

Takeaways from Edutopia article: 4 Advantages to Digital Discussions

1. The online discussions set students up for success in the workplace. They learn how to appropriately respond to classmates (with etiquette, better quality responses, etc.)

2. Student led conversations occur as students read and respond by agreeing or questioning the material.

3. Discussion boards can be used to review material throughout a unit, and especially before a test. Also, they can show the student's growth from one response to the next.

Jayme Kirk

Give three takeaways from the Edutopia article.

Post your first and last name at the bottom of your sticky note.

Elizabeth Joyce