Learning Kearn(el)s

Validation. "Likes," comments, and "shares" on Facebook. FEEDBACK. As humans, we crave having that interaction, that communication from others that what we said or did was worthwhile, or at least that someone was paying attention. Submitting assignments, evaluations, and activities in the educational environment is no different. Students, and instructors, need more than just a numeric or letter grade. Constructive feedback fosters improvement for the future. Sources of feedback Feedback can come in many forms: a grade, a comment. Feedback can be written or verbal. It is interesting to note that, when coming from instructors, audio feedback seems to have the most impact on students for long-lasting improvement (Johansson, 2017). Other sources of feedback included evaluations, which is typically to determine effectiveness of instruction; the use of feedback devices like polls and clickers (Sun, Martinez, & Seli, 2014), and written or media feedback on assig

The online classroom is most effective when frequent, in-depth discussion is encouraged, modeled, and promoted.  Discussion in the online environment is vital to creating a sense of community among students and instructors. Without discussion, learners feel isolated and disconnected from content, one another, and the instructor. The course feels like working in a bubble in which there is a sea of information with no life boat for rescue when in trouble. More than one method of online discussion exists. Instructors can utilize synchronous methods (video or phone conferencing, chats, etc.) or asynchronous methods (discussion forums, social media, etc.). Additionally, instructors and students alike can communicate via feedback on assignments and activities. All of these promote a stronger sense of connection and community. Synchronous discussions do not have to be with the entire class, it can be just the student and the instructor, offering a great way to brainstorm or simply ask

Synchronous discussions are a key component to effect online classroom environment. Like asynchronous discussions discussed in a previous post, synchronous discussions play a role in community building and developing deeper understanding of course material. What is a synchronous discussion? A synchronous discussion occurs when one or more individuals meet at the same time to discuss a topic. In the online environment this could be a conference call, a chat room, or a video chat using video conferencing software (Pauleen & Young,2001). Synchronous discussions simulate face-to-face classroom discussions, but differ in actual execution. Synchronous discussions happen all the time in our day-to-day life. Think of the conversation you had with your co-worker in the hallway, or the phone call with your mother. Those  simple examples of synchronous discussions in everyday life. Benefits of synchronous discussions in the online classroom Synchronous discussion, like as

The role of asynchronous discussions elicits research and discussion in the world of e-learning. Does it promote learning? Who should facilitate the discussions? Is it for everyone? What exactly IS an asynchronous discussion? Let us take a few moments to explore asynchronous discussions. What exactly is an asynchronous discussion? Asynchronous  discussions occur quite frequently outside of the learning environment: think about your latest Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram post. Who responded and when? Your best friend may have responded instantly, while someone else may have seen the post the next day and added their own comment. Some responses you may reply to or "like." Sometimes entire side discussions occur; for example, a picture with your uncle may prompt discussion about a reunion. Asynchronous discussions in the learning environment operate in a similar manner.  An asynchronous discussion occurs when a question or topic is presented and students respond o