The Collaborize Classroom discussion really intrigued me, because I didn't think that online discussions would be as helpful as a hands on approach. But Catlin makes the point that students would are much more comfortable posting their opinions online first, which really does make sense. Also, the students will be able to see what their fellow classmates are saying, and can compare and contrast their own responses and reform them while taking their time, in stead of having to come up with an answer on the spot. Another great thing about online discussions is that it can be done outside of the classroom, particularly if your classroom doesn't have a wide variety of technology, if any at all besides the teacher's computer. You can easily incorporate what the students are doing outside of class on their own by setting your lessons around those discussions and building on them during class. This will rely on the students actually doing the work, but most students will do it. Using things like layered questions, interesting discussion titles, and multimedia from the internet can really keep your students engaged in the curriculum. I would definitely try to use this kind of teaching often if I can once I graduate.
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