In: Categories » Education and reference » Online education » Setting Up Smaller Learning Communities in Online Schooling
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How can you build smaller learning communities while you are busy sending e-mail, evaluating assignments, and holding office hours? Getting the whole class to get to know each other is a big job in itself, but once some larger activities, such as chat sessions, have taken place, smaller communities should be fostered. These groups can deepen learners’ educational experiences and create more meaningful interactions. You can break down your regular communication activities and the assignments that you give to learners so that smaller learning groups are formed within the larger class community. Below is an overview of the way you can build small groups’ work into your weekly teaching activities. Week 1 Middle Weeks Final Week These weekly activities help the group stay on track as a learning community, but allow other, smaller learning communities to form and work on their own. Each day you work online you can plan, or perform, these activities. Working them into your weekly teaching tasks is necessary for a successful class. You can’t facilitate all learning activities, but learners working independently and together can tackle projects, analyze materials, and master the concepts contained in the course materials. Even when learners are not working together on a specific project, they can still talk with each other at least a few times a week. Setting up discussion questions for bulletin board posts, sending e-mail to learners and encouraging students to write to each other, and holding online office hours are just three ways to get class members to share their ideas. These activities, even though they are not highly structured, also help build a sense of togetherness.
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