Lesson 7

Interacting Effectively

Discussion is a process !

1. post an idea about a topic

2. get someone else's opinion or perspective

3. respond to the person's opinion or perspective

4. come to a new understanding of your topic

Raise the knowledge base by contributing factual information.

Effective collaboration on a discussion board requires members to login regularly and respond to others' comments:
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Ineffective	Better!
How a discussion board can be.	How a discussion board should be.

Collaboration Techniques

A discussion board doesn't work well unless you:

Speak up. Share your ideas. You have plenty of time to think of what to say. Students who are reluctant to speak out in a classroom have a chance to shine on web discussion boards because they don't have to compete and feel "put on the spot".

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Respond, and respond again. The recipient of your comments cannot see you nod your head, smile or shrug your shoulders. Body language needs to be conveyed with written comments such as "I hear you", "I understand your position", "That may be true", "My opinion differs" "I don't understand how you come to that conclusion."

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Stay on topic. This assures everyone that his/her time is well-spent.

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Contribute resource links. Advance the group's knowledge base by including outside expertise. Using selected web directories will result in quick, quality research links.
Skyline Library links.

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Share the conversation. Saying too much is as unproductive as saying too little. Being concise and keeping to the point keeps your reader's attention. (The labor of typing what one wants to say on a board often helps minimize wordiness!)

 

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Keep affinity. What we say can alienate members or the discussion group or pull them together. Taking interest in diverse opinions allows us to question the tenants that we hold.

 

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Keep the ball moving!..Use your conversational skills to keep the conversation going:

• agree with the idea, but add conditions "What if . .
• disagree with the idea completely and play the "devil's advocate"
• take a different perspective - "stand in someone else's shoes" to view the situation. "From my perspective . . . From a Native American's point of view . . .
• ask for details or elaboration on a point "What do you mean by . . Please clarify .

Note: "Cool" or "OK" are phrases that end a conversation (What else can you add after "cool"?)

 

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Continue!   

Centers for Teaching and Learning, San Mateo Community College District, CA USA    Updated  2/28/2010  by Sevastopoulos