1. Managing Interaction Tips and suggestions FSI 2000 Applications II To insert your company logo on this slide From the Insert Menu Select “Picture” Locate your logo file Click OK To resize the logo Click anywhere inside the logo. The boxes that appear outside the logo are known as “resize handles.” Use these to resize the object. If you hold down the shift key before using the resize handles, you will maintain the proportions of the object you wish to resize.

2. Tips and techniques What tips and techniques have you found useful in managing the electronic discussions with your students?

3. Berge’s Roles of the Instructor Pedagogical –Questioning skill to focus discussions Social –Creating a friendly, social environment Managerial –Setting the agenda, managing interaction Technical –Making technology transparent

4. Pedagogical Clear objectives Strive to be non-authoritarian Don’t expect too much especially early Find unifying threads Make sure it’s useful and relevant Require contributions Don’t lecture - just communicate

5. Social Accept lurking Be careful with humor and sarcasm Encourage good participant behavior Don’t be surprised if flaming occurs –But, react and correct problems Make sure no one is afraid to participate Use anonymity to your advantage

6. Managerial Stress and encourage informal nature of communications Encourage appropriate use of group and private communications Be responsive Share administrative responsibilities Set realistic time lines for participation

7. Managerial (cont.) Remember that you are going to have to participate a lot! Make sure topics are clear Encourage appropriate subject headings Vary participants participation Allow students/groups to moderate End discussion when they are done

8. Managerial (cont.) Handling students who can’t attend chat session Handling non-typists and non-native speakers in synchronous chat Consider identifying respondent or topic at beginning of post in synchronous chat

9. Technical How do students get help? Provide time to learn software –consider first few assignments carefully Promote peer learning Develop online and print troubleshooting guide

10. References Berge, Z.L. (1995). Facilitating computer conferencing: recommendations from the field. Educational Technology. 35(1) 22-30 Conrad, R. (1997) Save yourself from drowning in online interaction. Proceedings from the 13th Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning Kearsley, G. (2000). Online education: learning and teaching in cyberspace. Belmont, CA:Wadsworth