This weeks Blog assignment is in reference to crafting discussion board questions and the becoming the facilitator. This really does not feel any different then speaking in a weekly discussion board. There are numerous recommendations within the reading and material for this unit on what is an effective strategy that might be used to master facilitation, but most seems to be common sense.
I remember from grade school who, what, where, why, and how. Discussion board questions seem to follow the same pattern. What is the topic, who does it effect, what are we trying to accomplish, why and how do we get there. The only difference between the grade school and today is that after each posting a facilitator should pursue to further each answer with more questions. I understand that the purpose is to push a learner into critical thinking and look deeper into their answers, but the importance seems to be put more on backing up what you are saying with evidence.
The one reading did address common questions to avoid such as being too general or questions that are yes or no answers. The one I did not agree with is the general opening question such as what do you think? I believe this would open a dialog early, as long as the end of the sentence is back up your response. To be clear this nonquestion is listed under problems with opening questions because it is said to be to general and without any details to begin a conversation with. I believe if an online learner read the material and watched the videos then there is nothing wrong with beginning a unit with an open question. Not only would it provoke a great conversation to start the week, but it would force students to review the material if they did not understand the question.
The key to a successful facilitator seems to be in the Socratic questions. The six major types of questions seem to be in each class I have taken through my journey in education, I just did not notice them until now.
© 2020 Triumphant Learning
- Clarification – Why do you say that? Or How does this relate to our discussion board question?
- Assumptions – How can you verify or disapprove assumptions
- Probe reasons – Can you give an example or what do you think and why
- Viewpoints and Perspective – What other way can you look at that?
- Probe implications/consequences- What are you implying? How does that tie into what we have learned?
- Questions about questions – Simply stated what do you mean?
(Paul, 1995)
There are many other resources to use to keep conversations flowing but I love to keep it simple. So far in reflection of this assignment I have enjoyed the links learners provide. I get a different viewpoint on a question that I may have missed the first time. The most important bit of information is learning how you word a discussion question may make perfect sense to you but in the eyes of another it may not be so clear.
Resources:
2020 Triumphant Learning (n.d.) 6 Socratic Questions Square (Image). Retrieved from https://madmimi.com/s/105746
Paul, R.W. (1995). Critical Thinking Foundation for Critical Thinking. Santa Rosa, CA Retrieved from http://www.umich.edu/~elements/probsolv/strategy/cthinking.htm
Published by Lynette Markey on June 13, 2020
Lynette's Educational Journey 