Subject: Re: [IFETS-DISCUSS] Assessing student participation
From: Keith Tyler-Smith (Tyler-SmithK@CPIT.AC.NZ)
Date: Mon 09 Jun 2003 - 11:08:55 MEST
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2003 21:08:55 +1200 From: Keith Tyler-Smith <Tyler-SmithK@CPIT.AC.NZ> Subject: Re: [IFETS-DISCUSS] Assessing student participation
Hi All
As a largely "Read Only Participant" myself I am motivated to leap into
electronic print since I finally have something to say.
On 6/7/03 Bill Williams wrote:
>>how can the tutor/moderator distinguish between the learner who is
conscientiously reading but not contributing, who I prefer to call a
Read-only Participant (ROP) rather than use the slightly pejorative
term
lurker, and someone who has tuned out or dropped out? Does this matter?
<<
One way to distinguish whether someone is a ROP or has dropped out is
to track the number of times a student has logged on and accessed the
discussion, (providinig of course the technology you are using affords
that feature).
I reckon that some students are reluctant to publish their thoughts and
ideas for the same reason that some students are reluctant to speak out
in a F2F class. "Do I have anything to say just yet?" "Is what I may say
a useful contribution?", "What if others think that what I say is
irrelevant or stupid?"
For some it may be a matter of confidence or simply they feel they have
nothing useful to contribute at a particular time or about a particular
topic. This is especially true if some of those posting seem confident
in their point of view or well informed about the topic under
discussion. There's an old proverb that says "better to say nothing and
be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all possible doubt". I
think there are more than a few students who would take this view as a
starting point.
I suppose it then falls to the course tutor to encourage and support
those who may be reluctant posters by addressing them directly and
pointing out the benefits in developing the ability to put a point of
view across.
One way to do this is to have students post a brief reflective piece
about their experience of something that relates to the topic. Speaking
from one's own experience doesn't put up the same sorts of barriers as
a more intellectual , theoretical or abstract discussion topic does. You
can then move the discussion more into the abstract once you have
achieved a level of engagement.
I will now go back to being a ROP.
Cheers
Keith Tyler-Smith
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