For those of you who missed the Hybrid Workshop on Friday with Cub Kahn, all is not lost. I’m going to talk about some of the most important topics that we covered over the next few weeks. The workshop was as much about hybrid course design as it was about GOOD course design, which means whether we teach in a hybrid format or not, we can all learn something. For the workshop notes with links to many of the handouts we used in the class, click here! I can answer questions or chat over a cup of coffee with anyone who is interested.

One of the topics that came up is how to make the most of ONLINE DISCUSSIONS. Canvas has an excellent interface for online discussions and they’re really easy to set up. So why would you want to include online discussions in your face-to-face class? Because they’re powerful! You will find that students engage with each other in ways they don’t in class. The quiet students will burst forth with the most insightful posts and comments, and in my experience, students are very encouraging towards each other. Our students are very used to this type of digital communication. We may not be, but it’s very natural to them so don’t be afraid to give it a try.

Here are a few things for you to consider to make the most of the discussion feature. The complete article is here:

1. Avoid questions that ask students to just supply factual information. Spice it up! Zheng & Spires suggest:
   • 3-2-1: ask students to post 3 things they learned, 2 ways in which they will apply the information, and 1 lingering question.
   • Jigsaw: divide students into groups (Canvas does this easily too) and have them research and share a different aspect of something they’re learning.
   • Include an activity: have students do something and then report back on their experience.
2. Set the expectations up front. Give clear instructions and examples of acceptable and unacceptable responses.
3. During the discussion, don’t dominate. Keep tabs on the discussion and provide limited comments that function to encourage students but let them do the talking.
4. Keep the grading “low-stakes” by using a simple rubric such as:
   • Completeness (1 pt), Quality (1 pt), Peer interaction (1 pt), Timeliness (1 pt).
5. Don’t be afraid to have students post audio or video. You do NOT have to be the expert! The Canvas mobile app is actually simple to use and your students will be able to figure it out. Students watch videos all the time, so this should feel pretty natural to them AND it helps them get to know each other better.

Have any more suggestions? Comment below and get the discussion started!