1. Managing Online Discussions with a Participation Portfolio
John Fritz
UMBC
July 23, 2008

2. Overview Background Problem Solution Influences & Handouts Q & A
Require a Participation Portfolio
Create a “Quality Discussion” Rubric
Create a Portfolio Template (MS Word)
Influences & Handouts
Q & A

3. ADP “Best Practice” Partnership with Summer & Winter Programs
Faculty Development Center & OIT (support)
Faculty build and present at least two online learning modules, activities or assignments students would see in a traditional course redesigned for hybrid delivery;
10-minute presentation must include summary of 1 peer and student review for each deliverable;
Program requirements, application & training “syllabus”:

4. Evolving CMS Use by Faculty
User & Document Management (Pull)
Password-protected class & group space
Attach or Copy/Paste Documents (expiration)
Communications (Push)
Announcements
, Messages
Discussion & Chat
Assessments (Push & Pull)
Electronic assignment delivery & collection
Quizzing, Surveys, Course Usage

6. 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.

7. Solution: Self-Graded Portfolio
Instructor defines grading rubric for good post & reply (this is THE hardest task for instructors).
Students propose grade they feel they deserve, based on 3-5 examples of each.
“Evidence” must be taken from separate weeks to avoid end of semester “dog pile.”
Students copy and paste examples into a “portfolio” and submit electronically.
Instructor can accept, raise or lower grade based on quality of evidence based on rubric (#1).

8. Assignment Upload

9. Assignment Requirements

10. Discussion Grading Rubric

11. Discussion Portfolio Example

12. Discussion Interaction Types
Student-Content (SC)
Student-Student (SS)
Student-Group (SG)

13. Student-Content (SC) Type
Aspects
Post a few salient sentences on the topic;
Link posts to course theories, lectures or texts (synthesis & analysis);
Cite new or existing sources whenever possible.

14. Student-Student (SS) Type
Aspects
Draw out a colleague’s assumptions through probing follow up queries;
Dispute positions with which you do not agree;
Defend your own position with evidence.

15. Student-Group (SG) Type
Aspects
Provoke thought (not emotions) about a new idea or issue;
Contribute to the civil discourse or edification of the class;
Encourage participation of others.

16. 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.

17. 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
10/15/05 TLT Brown Bag
see time code 09:30:00 for his specific use of portfolios & templates.
See “past presentation archive” at
Also, see “Teaching & Learning” section of

18. Use MS Word Form “Portfolio”
ADP Best Practice
Use MS Word Form “Portfolio”

19. 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.

20. 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;

21. Portfolio Template

22. Portfolio Discussion Grade

23. How to Create MS Word Forms

24. 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).

25. Portfolio Influences
“It Takes A Village”

26. Performance-based Portfolio (2003)
Karin Readel, UMBC Geography Professor
Developed an “extra credit” discussion portfolio for analysis of related articles.

27. 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

28. Discussion Template (2005)
Chris Swan, UMBC Geography Professor
Developed an MS Word Template to Capture (standardize?) students’ best 3-5 posts for portfolio.

29. Discourse Analysis-based Rubric (2006)
Patricia Verdines, Adjunct Professor, UM CLIS
Classified “types” of threaded discussion interactions.
3/31/06 UM TWT Conference

30. Links
UMBC’s Hybrid Training Program
UMBC’s Most Active Bb Courses Reports
Rubristar for Teachers (rubric maker)

31. Thanks! John Fritz fritz@umbc.edu or 410.455.6596
Q & A
Thanks!
John Fritz or