Discussion Forums and Guidelines for Working Groups
The Purpose of Working Groups
Sometimes students feel like the cartoon figure on
the right. They are puzzled and don't know how to do 2 key things:
1. Find the right information for the question being
asked (whether a quiz question or a Comparison)
2. Figure that information out in such ways as:
- Having a dialog with careful,
evidence-centered postings by several students
- Having one of you find
additional information in the textbook or in the visual resources in the
Digging Deeper folders in the Unit and tell the others about the resource
- Asking your instructor for more
information (If you need it, that's what I'm here for.)
Sometimes, it seems easier just to memorize
something without understanding or just try to fake it, and students may get by
with that. Faking learning is, however, a lousy habit--to be blunt--to develop
for your immediate future and certainly not for your long-term future. What the
Working Groups are for is to help you help each other with those 2 things.
Working Groups (Available on the Course Menu and in the Learning
Modules for Units 1, 2, and 3)
Working Groups use Blackboard's Discussion tool,
but the only ones who can see your group are members of it. Each of you
has been randomly assigned to a small group. Once the purge rolls are available
I will make adjustments so the groups are about the same size and so that
everyone is in a Working Group.
Participating in a Working Group is a required
assignment with each Unit. In the grades, participating in Working Groups is
classified as written work. Not participating may mean an alternative quiz that
does require writing.
How Do You Find Your Working Group
Working Groups will open on the date in the Course
Schedule. If you have not used Groups before, this link may help you find your
working group.
How Do You Find Examples of What to Do You Do and Find Out about
Grading
After Unit 1 starts, you will see a Unit 1 forum
for your Working Group. Within each Working Group, the first thread in the
forum for each Unit:
You can also see examples of how you can post to
ask or answer a question in the forum Shareables from the Working Groups.
You are to help each other learn history and
practice Good Habits for Evidence. These Working Groups let you ask or
answer questions about the current content, current Comparison Topics, and
about current quiz questions. You can earn those points by asking or
answering.
Guidelines for Working Group Postings
Read Working Group forums on Blackboard often.
Reflect on these comments and contribute. Online discussions are learning
opportunities that are equivalent to study groups or class projects with other
participants. By reflecting on and responding to questions and comments, you
will develop your ability to articulate your knowledge and to learn from
others. We are here to learn the material, to help each other, to have fun, and
to discuss matters of importance (at least I think history is important) with
others.
With graded Working Groups:
Post
Early: The longer you wait to post your question, the harder
it is for others to answer you in time for you to do your work. If you post so
close to the closing date and hour, that no one--except your instructor--can
help you with a response or make use of your response, your grade will be very
low. If you try to post after the due date and hour, the responses are no
longer accepted.
Opportunities for Extra Credit with Working Group Postings
You not only can see examples of how you can post
to ask or answer a question in the forum Shareables from the Working Groups,
but also see useful postings from other Working Groups. The Shareables forum is
used to share information—and to earn extra credit. When I see postings in your
Working Group that can help other Working Group, I do two things:
1. I copy and post your work into the Shareable
forum for each Unit (available at Discussions).
2. I enter 2 extra credit points for each posting
that can help the other Working Groups and for each person involved in that
posting.
WCJC Department: |
History – Dr. Bibus |
Contact Information: |
281.239.1577 or bibusc@wcjc.edu
|
Last Updated: |
2014 |
WCJC Home: |