ONLINE DISCUSSION AND LITERATURE CIRCLES

Jessica M. DeAtley

What are Online Discussions? Students read novels & fiction/nonfiction

related readings Whole-class

Student-lead discussions Students pose high level questions to each other &

respond Literature Circles

Student-lead discussions Students have various jobs as they read & respond

Vocabulary Enricher Literacy Luminary Etc.

The Research Behind It

Rosenblatt’s Transactional Theory Students bring their life experiences and

knowledge to a text Through collaborative discussions, they

take on an active and new way of thinking about text

New meaning is created through collaboration

Rosenblatt, L. (1988). Writing and reading: The transactional theory. (Tech. Rep. No. 416). University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Center for the Study of Reading.

The Research Behind It

Vygotsky’s Social Learning Theory Social collaboration plays an important role

in cognitive development Students are able to interact, share

experiences, and learn from one another

Stewart, P. (2009). Facebook and virtual literature circle partnerships: Building a community of readers. American Library Association, 37(4), 28-33.

The Research Behind It

Online discussions of texts… Foster energetic interactions between

students and teachers Promote active learning and collaborative

learning Students reshape and add to their

understanding of a text Motivate students Engage students more than with face-to-

face discussions Allow for easier discussions of controversial

ideas Prompt deeper critical thinking

Kirk, J. J., & Orr, R. L. (2003). A primer on the effective use of threaded discussion forms. (ERIC Documented Reproduction Service No. ED 472738)

The Research Behind It

Online discussions of texts… Allows students to craft their responses in

writing Essential pieces to the literacy process

Everyone gets an equal chance to participate

Everyone is held accountable for their participation

Shyer students are less fearful Integrates technology Allows students to collaborate more

intensely Allows for reflection & reflexivity

Bowers-Campbell, J. (2011). Take it out of class: Exploring virtual literature circles. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 54(8), 557-567. doi:10.1598/JAAL.54.8.1

How it Works

Wiki Spaces Individual or group webpages for

information sharing, discussions, etc. Anyone can have a Wiki Space There are specific K-12 Wiki Spaces that are

private for school use Teacher-created and monitored Students do not need to provide an e-mail

address

How it Works

www.wikispaces.com You all have pages and have been added to the 6th-Grade-Teachers page

Please see your name & password sheets www.6th-grade-teachers.wikispaces.com

Please log on with your passwords and follow along as I explain the components Dashboard 6th-Grade-Teachers

Page Discussion* Notify History

Click on “Discussion”

How It Works

To start a new thread, click on “New Post” A box with a place for the “Subject” and

the “Message” will pop up All other members of the Wiki will be able to

view and respond to your post Click on “post” when you are ready to share

A sample post and response has been added Click on the post “Online Collaboration” The initial post and responses are listed

Our Text

“Take It Out of Class: Exploring Virtual Literature Circles” Insert Strategy to guide reading

Questioning

Costa’s Levels of Questioning

Questioning

Level 1: What information was collected from the

research? Create a bulleted list. Level 2:

Why might a teacher might want to incorporate online discussions into her classroom? Analyze her reasoning.

Level 3: How can you apply this information to what

you are already teaching?

Questioning on Wiki

Discussion Modeling New Post

Create a new post for each question Subject: “Level 1, 2, or 3 Question” Message: Pose your question

Others will respond to each question separately In the “Subject,” the question will be repeated Type your response in the “Message”

Questioning on Wiki

After You Post: The Discussion Go back to the Discussion Forum Find at least 3 other posts Reply with a response to the question

Five sentences minimum