MyNotes - A Plan for Effective Discussion Boards
In reading Rob Kelly’s “A Plan for Effective Discussion Boards” appearing in Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning Tools: 15 Strategies for Engaging Online Students Using Real-Time Chat, Threaded Discussions, and Blogs at www.facultyfocus.com, I found the following helpful:
Types of questions to ask…Six Socratic questioning techniques as delineated by Richard Paul to get students involved in discussions that go beyond simply opinion:
Conceptual Clarification Questions
Questions that get students to think about concepts behind their arguments:
- Why are you saying that?
- What exactly does this mean?
- How does this relate to what we have been talking about?
- Can you give me an example?
Probing Assumptions - questions that get students to think about the beliefs that they base their arguments on.
- What else could we assume?
- How did you choose those assumptions?
- How can you verify or disprove that assumption?
- What would happen if…?
Probing rationale, reasons, and evidence - questions that get students to think about the support for their arguments.
- Why is that happening?
- How do you know this?
- Can you give me an example?
- What do you think causes…?
- On what authority are you basing your argument?
Questioning Viewpoints and Perspectives - questions that get students to consider other viewpoints.
- What are some alternate ways of looking at this?
- Who benefits from this?
- How are x and y similar?
Probe Implications and Consequences - questions that get students to think about the what follows from their arguments.
- Then what would happen?
- What are the consequences of that assumption?
Questions about the Question - questions that turn the question in on itself.
- What was the point of asking that question?
- Why do you think I asked this question?
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