Myth Takedown #6: Discussions Always Work

In this episode, Camie and Alex discuss how to take the pulse of your asynchronous course using LMS data, student feedback, and your own professional judgment through reflection. From ghost town discussion boards to unclear instructions masquerading as rigor, they offer practical tips (and a few laughs) to help you diagnose issues early - before your course needs a crash cart.

After our spring hiatus, The Pedagogy Toolkit is back! Amalie, Alex, and Camie attended the SXSW Edu conference in March and came home rejuvenated and full of new ideas. In this episode, we recap the highlights from our week in Austin. SXSW EduTiny Experiments, by Anne-Laure Le CunffProductive Failure, by Manu KapurThe AI Alliance and The Guide to Essential Competencies

In this episode, Alex and Camie discuss the 5 types of learning gaps.

In this episode - Camie and Alex discuss the concept of Technostress - students and instructors becoming burned out by overuse of tech in their education and daily living. They discuss how to decrease the impact of this type of stress in the fully online learning environment.Stay tuned for a little end-credits blooper too!References:BOLT Conference 2024 Recap and RecordingsKumar, P. S. (2024). Technostress: A comprehensive literature review on dimensions, impacts, and management strategies. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 100475.Fredericks, S., ElSayed, M., Hammad, M., Abumiddain, O., Istwani, L., Rabeea, A., Rashid-Doubell, F., & Bella, A. M. E. (2021). Anxiety is associated with extraneous cognitive load during teaching using high-fidelity clinical simulation. Medical Education Online, 26(1), Article 1994691. Saleem, F., Chikhaoui, E., & Malik, M. I. (2024). Technostress in students and quality of online learning: Role of instructor and university support. Frontiers in Education, 9, Article 1309642. Mheidly, N., Fares, M. Y., & Fares, J. (2020). Coping with stress and burnout associated with telecommunication and online learning. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, Article 574969.

In this episode, Camie gives 3 tips for improving student engagement in your asynchronous online course.

In this episode, Amalie and Camie discuss incorporating and managing controversy in class discussions.https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/22/02/you-want-teach-what https://kappanonline.org/richardson-using-controversy-as-a-teaching-tool-an-interview-with-diana-hess/ https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/programs/cornerstones-of-democracy/confronting-controversial-issues-in-the-classroom/ 

In today's show - Amalie and Alex discuss how to foster the necessary trait of curiosity. For instructors in fully online programs, cultivating this may seem tricky, but there are simple and effective practices which encourage students to go deeper and become lifelong learners.References:Reviving Curiosity: Fostering Inquiry-Based Learning OnlineCuriosity, interest and engagement in technology-pervasive learning environments: a new research agendaGrasp: The Science Transforming How We Learn, Sarma & Yoquinto

In this episode, Amalie and Camie talk about ways to improve discussions.

In this episode, Camie and Amalie look at the ways that humanizing your courses-- especially your online courses-- can combat academic dishonesty.The Relationship/Cheating Connection: Do Students Cheat Less When They Have a Strong Relationship with the Teacher?Essential Considerations for Addressing the Possibility of AI-Driven Cheating, Part 1Essential Considerations for Addressing the Possibility of AI-Driven Cheating, Part 2

Alex interviews Dylan Craig, visual information architect with the Global Campus Media team. They discuss the resources and capabilities of the media team for online instructors with the U of A. And they dive into the concept of visual literacy from the perspective of graphic design and instructional design to improve the use of media and visuals in online courses.References:Moline, S. (2008). What is visual literacy? Stenhouse Publishers. Visual Literacy in Bloom's Taxonomy to Support Visual Learning Skills, Arneson & OfferdahlMayer's 12 Principles of Multimedia LearningThe Pedagogy Toolkit, Myth Takedown #1: The Illusion of Learning Styles