This is a list of ideas for engaging students with reading material (and each other) from two faculty brainstorming sessions on online learning experiences and the use of social annotation.
1. Selecting content for shared reading
content length -- pick readings that are short but engaging
appropriate reading level -- if a reading includes difficult vocabulary words, how will you help the students deal with that? Define them ahead of time, etc?
relate to the current class topic
readings with different viewpoints that can spark disagreement/discussion
student-suggested resources, student comments/voices
relevant, practical texts that students can see the utility of
aligns with learning objectives, and typically something that is seminal yet a bit controversial
Make sure the reading coincides with the concepts important to the course.
What kinds of voices are being showcased in the reading? Where is the reading coming from? How will different learners connect (or not) to the reading?
Current events & topic relevance
I think about connecting to the objectives but also how accessible it is for my students. I want them to be successful with the activity - so getting it at just the right level is often tricky and something I think about.
Diversity of content
applicability to real world
have short reads
reading level appropriate - what words might they not know
readings that students can work through together
engaging reading
inclusive article
use resources that students use/suggest
articles have utility value - how it applies to their lives/class
2. Facilitating student engagement with the content? (ground rules, prompts etc.)
want to see meaningful responses from students, see that they are thinking about the issues being discussed. Assign students roles -- one student has to play devil's advocate or give alternate views to previous statements. Get students to connect readings to their own life experiences. If they're coming in on the end of a conversation, get them to identify trends of thought in the class discussions.
civility -- ensuring and modeling civil disagreement. Try swapping student/teacher roles so students can ask questions and you can show good ways to respond.
It's ok to disagree, but do so respectfully. No name calling. Might say "Some people think" to keep from personalizing opinions, keeping students comfortable with having differing opinions. Stay behind the role you've been assigned (ex. devil's advocate).
Could be interesting to assign students to argue one side of an issue and then make them switch and defend the other side.
Make sure students pick up on previous responses, use information from preceding comments to continue the conversation.
Asking questions, making layered connections, asking peers deeper questions or commenting on peer responses
Let learners create prompts!
Provide cues/prompts only on specific days of the week and ask students to check and respond on those days.
Have to assign points, respond with respect, and redirect quickly if needed
That one is tough - I would need a rubric
It's all about civil discourse peeps! Lead with kindness.
Personal experience, quotes
Sharing of information, offering opinions.
have everyone annotate the syllabus at the beginning to get them comfortable with it
model civility - civil discourse
have student ask the question and the teacher answer it
have them annotate and the go back and assign them the devil's advocate role
piggyback on others comments
measure "meaningful" responses
give students roles to prompt responses
allow for using "some people" "other people" feel ... to keep tensions down
3. Measuring engagement, critical thinking?
a brief quiz to measure comprehension
test student ability to articulate the thesis/an idea constructed based on the reading
application -- students can show how the text fits into the larger lesson
use rubrics, encourage interaction between comments, have students choose the "best" ideas/insights
use rubrics based on Bloom, # and quality of comments
Uniqueness of responses
Can they articulate/identify thesis
relating the article (small) to the whole