Discussion in Discursive Classes
In discursive classes, where the main activities are reading, writing, and discussion, it's crucial that you “talk” regularly with your students about the current issues open for discussion. This includes:
- reading all the posts in every discussion topic;
- responding to students' comments;
- and making substantive contributions to the conversation several times a week.
Keep in mind that your contributions to the discussion can include more than just text! The posting interface lets you embed images, videos and other materials from the web. You can also upload files and even record your own video directly into the interface.
Discussion in Studio Classes
In studio classes, where students are focused on developing their art and design skills, the bulk of your time each week should be spent in reviewing, critiquing, and discussing their work.
- For students, participation in these classes often consists principally of asking questions — and reviewing and discussing one another's assignments. Their participation in the module discussion topics (if there are discussion topics per se) may be less important than their active engagement in the critique discussions.
- As the instructor of a studio class, your participation in the weekly discussion topic may also be fairly limited. However, it's still important that you read all the posts to make sure students are not getting off track — and answer any questions addressed to you.
- In addition, studio instructors should be actively engaged in conversations with your students about their work. Encourage them to ask questions about your critiques. Ask them to explain how they will apply your feedback to future assignments. Facilitate peer review discussions.
To give students time after their assignments have been submitted to review and discuss each other's work, you can extend the closing date for your assignments. (You need to edit an assignment topic to extend its closing date: LEARN MORE.) |