Using screen capture software to include academic content in online discussion boards leads to rich mathematical discussion.

1. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
by
Fred Feldon
January 2012

2. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards

3. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards

4. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Discussion boards
should be “the heart” of
an online class!

5. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Keeps students engaged

6. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Students take an active
role in their learning, which
increases success and retention

7. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog

8. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Anonymity and forethought
encourages participation

9. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Builds skills in communicating
mathematically

10. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
“There must be far less
telling on the part of the
teacher, and far more
doing on the part of the
student.” Jean Piaget

11. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Creates a sense of community

12. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Duplicates the interaction that
normally takes place in a classroom

13. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Builds technical skills

14. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Prepares students for “real life”

15. Screen Capture
Software

16. Screen Capture
Software
http://www.techsmith.com/jing

17. Add
“Embed HTML”
Button to Jing

18. Add
“Embed HTML”
Button to Jing

19. Add
“Embed HTML”
Button to Jing

20. Add
“Embed HTML”
Button to Jing

21. Add
“Embed HTML”
Button to Jing

22. Add
“Embed HTML” Button
to Jing

23. Add
“Embed HTML” Button
to Jing

24. Add
“Embed HTML” Button
to Jing

25. Add
“Embed HTML” Button
to Jing

26. Capturing the
Embed Code

27. Capturing the
Embed Code

28. Capturing the
Embed Code

29. Capturing the
Embed Code

30. Capturing the
Embed Code

31. Pasting the Embed Code

32. Pasting the Embed Code

33. Pasting the Embed Code:
Old Design

34. Pasting the Embed Code:
Old Design

35. Pasting the Embed Code:
Old Design

36. Pasting the Embed Code:
Old Design

37. Pasting the Embed Code:
New Design (2012+)

38. Pasting the Embed Code:
New Design (2012+)
Right Click Here
Warning: These instructions may change if, for example, Pearson adds an
“insert image” icon in the menu which is planned for the future…

39. Pasting the Embed Code:
New Design (2012+)

40. Pasting the Embed Code:
New Design (2012+)

41. Pasting the Embed Code:
New Design (2012+)

42. Pasting the Embed Code:
New Design (2012+)

43. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Closing thoughts (for professors)…
• Create a warm and welcoming atmosphere that integrates students
socially and academically into the course
• Allow enough wait time to ensure peer interaction and student self-
discovery
• Avoid omniscient overbearing or evaluative posts that inhibit future
participation
• Start a new conversation when one is stale or there’s a period of silence
(Add a relevant link to a current event, for example, to discuss)
• Model the behavior you are trying to elicit from students
• If the discussion board is boring for you, it will definitely be boring for
your students!
• Sustained interaction becomes a rich environment for critical thinking to
flourish

44. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Closing thoughts (for students)…
• Check the discussion board every time you log on to the course website; it
should be the first thing you do, the first place you go
• Read every new message before you post; your question may have already
been answered
• Learn how to get your academic content (your solution to a problem, for
example, or a question from the online homework) on the screen with the
print screen button, screen capture software, a webcam, a camera, your cell
phone camera, a printer/scanner, etc.
• Learn how to add arrows, boxes, text, highlighting, etc. to your image
• There is no “silly question.” What’s silly is not asking a question. The
professor and your fellow students will all appreciate it and learn something
from it, guaranteed!
• If someone answers your question be sure to thank them then “close the
loop” by saying you got it or ask for more help if you need it; other students
may also add their thoughts and contribute to the discussion

45. Academic Content in
Discussion Boards
Closing thought (for everyone)…
Discussion forum dialogue has the
potential to be the most valuable
learning opportunity in the online
environment!

46. Thank You
ffeldon@coastline.edu
This presentation is available to download at
http://www.slideshare.net/ffeldon