USING FORUMS
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Add a Thread to a Forum
MANAGING FORUMS
Professors should provide students some guidelines for preparing each session.
WHAT:
-The case or exercise they have to prepare for the session.
-If a report is required.
-Questions or guidelines for preparing the case and the report.
HOW:
-In groups or individually. (Group work is recommended)
-Length and format of the report-Template (e.g. two pages maximum)
WHEN: Deadline (eg. By 19:00h Mondays Madrid time)
WHERE: Where the report has to be posted (usually in the assignments area or in the forum)
CLASS DISCUSSION: Indicate when the debate will begin in the forum (e.g Madrid time and date) and when the debate will be closed.
- Choose a practical case or assignment to organize a debate (Rememberyou cannot give a lecture)
- Plan in advance and write a teaching plan with questions to rise in the debate. This will help you during the session.
- Provide clear instructions to students in order to prepare the session.
Different ways to start a debate:
- Questions – Topics
- Post engaging topics, with questions and guidelines that help students focus their answers and analyze the case.
In case a group report was required:
- The professor can choose one of the reports to start de debate. “…….To open each session I will post one of the group’s papers along with one or more new questions as a way of initiating thecase discussion…..”
- Or ask all the groups to post their reports.
TIPS
- log in the forum every day (2 or 3 times recommended)
- Post more than one topic or thread/day.
- So students have more options to participate
- This way the debate is richer and you can embrace more topics
- Keep a clear structure
- Post a thread per question/topic.
- Give a meaningful name to each threat.
- You can have several threads open simultaneously.
- Besides the different forums for each session, professors can open extra forum in parallel for example a Bar-Café to share news or trend topics related to the subject.
- Conclusions: At the end of each session is important to post a summary or a final conclusion of the discussion. Recap the goals of the session and provide some take aways to the students.