21st Century Learning and Teaching

As I reviewed course evaluations after my first year of online teaching, an unexpected theme emerged: several students mentioned they wished I had been a bigger part of their discussions, primarily so they would know if they were on the right track. I naively assumed my silence during group discussion would be taken as evidence by students that their discussions were right on target, but this was not the case at all. Students needed more reassurance, especially since I was asking them to take very big risks in terms of explaining their understanding of a content area that was often new and challenging for them..

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http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/asynchronous-learning-and-trends/understanding-the-instructors-role-in-facilitating-online-discussions/