Managing Online Discussions with a Participation Portfolio

John FritzUMBC

July 23, 2008

Overview

• Background• Problem• Solution

– Require a Participation Portfolio– Create a “Quality Discussion” Rubric– Create a Portfolio Template (MS Word)

• Influences & Handouts• Q & A

ADP “Best Practice”

Evolving CMS Use by Faculty

1. User & Document Management (Pull)– Password-protected class & group space – Attach or Copy/Paste Documents (expiration)

2. Communications (Push)– Announcements– Email, Messages– Discussion & Chat

3. Assessments (Push & Pull)– Electronic assignment delivery & collection– Quizzing, Surveys, Course Usage

Online Discussion Assessment Problems

• Quantity-Based– How do you avoid rewarding “me too” or

“I agree” posts?

• Quality-Based– Tedious to find, subjective, a pain to

justify to students.

Solution: Self-Graded Portfolio

1. Instructor defines grading rubric for good post & reply (this is THE hardest task for instructors).

2. Students propose grade they feel they deserve, based on 3-5 examples of each.

3. “Evidence” must be taken from separate weeks to avoid end of semester “dog pile.”

4. Students copy and paste examples into a “portfolio” and submit electronically.

5. Instructor can accept, raise or lower grade based on quality of evidence based on rubric (#1).

Assignment Upload

Assignment Requirements

Discussion Grading Rubric

Discussion Portfolio Example

Discussion Interaction Types

1. Student-Content (SC)

2. Student-Student (SS)

3. Student-Group (SG)

Student-Content (SC) Type

• Aspects1. Post a few salient sentences on the

topic;2. Link posts to course theories, lectures

or texts (synthesis & analysis); 3. Cite new or existing sources whenever

possible.

Student-Student (SS) Type

• Aspects1. Draw out a colleague’s assumptions

through probing follow up queries;2. Dispute positions with which you do

not agree;3. Defend your own position with

evidence.

Student-Group (SG) Type

• Aspects1. Provoke thought (not emotions) about

a new idea or issue;2. Contribute to the civil discourse or

edification of the class;3. Encourage participation of others.

Fixed Duration for Discussions

• Set discussions with fixed start & end• Benefits:

– Students will be more proactive (especially if you require a discussion portfolio)

– Laggards can’t chime in at the end of semester.

– Easier to manage one discussion at a time, than several concurrently.

Testimonial

• Chris Swan, Geography

• “Improving Student Learning in a Hybrid Course”– 10/10/05 Brown Bag

Workshop

• “Blackboard Best Practices”– 09/21/07 iTunesU

Q&A

ADP Best PracticeUse MS Word Form “Portfolio”

Problem

• Students struggle with form & content of atypical assignments.

• I want to know how students analyze their own discourse and participation.

• I want to make most efficient use of my time.

Solution: MS Word Form

• Create a form that students complete and submit online.

• Benefits:– Guides the student in what you’re

looking for;– Standardizes student input which makes

grading more efficient;

Portfolio Template

Portfolio Discussion Grade

How to Create MS Word Forms

MS Word Form Toolbar

• Options– Text box– Check box– Drop down menu– Form field options– Table– Frames– Shading– Lock (Tip: enable before save/upload so users can

download/fill in).

Portfolio Influences

“It Takes A Village”

Performance-based Portfolio (2003)

• Karin Readel, UMBC Geography Professor

• Developed an “extra credit” discussion portfolio for analysis of related articles.

Discussion Forum w/Expiration Dates & Grading Rubric

(2005)• Michael Scheuermann,

Drexel University

• Builds student responsibility for discussions by establishing forum or chat duration “windows” and grading rubrics– 1/13/05 Educause MARC

Presentation

Discussion Template (2005)

– Chris Swan, UMBC Geography Professor

– Developed an MS Word Template to Capture (standardize?) students’ best 3-5 posts for portfolio.

Discourse Analysis-based Rubric (2006)

• Patricia Verdines, Adjunct Professor, UM CLIS

• Classified “types” of threaded discussion interactions.– 3/31/06 UM TWT

Conference

Links

• UMBC’s Hybrid Training Program http://www.umbc.edu/oit/hybrid/training

• UMBC’s Most Active Bb Courses Reports http://www.umbc.edu/blackboard/reports

• Rubristar for Teachers (rubric maker) http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php

Q & A

Thanks!John Fritz

fritz@umbc.edu or 410.455.6596