How to Ask Online Discussion Questions
How To Ask Online Discussion QuestionsLearning ObjectivesUpon completion of this lesson you will be able to:o Identify the benefits of structured discussion
questionso List examples of various types of questionso Identify strategies to assist in preparing
questions
Prerequisite KnowledgeYou are expected to have had:o Exposure to online learningo Exposure to quality writing techniques
Estimated TimeThis lesson will take approximately 30 minutes to complete
Introduction
Discussion questioning is defined as:o Instructional cues or stimuli that convey to online participants the content necessary
to be a learner and directions for what they are to do and how it is to be done.
In order to stimulate ongoing discussions it is necessary to compose discussion questions that encourage responses, which go beyond simply repeating points made by other classmates. This can be done through disagreeing, framing counterarguments, or providing examples. The quality of online discussions is directly related to the depth and complexity of the arguments raised. Quality discussions lead to better learning outcomes, improvements in writing skills, and better problem solving abilities.
Through the use of online questions and strategies you can expect the following benefits:
o Deeper and more reflective student responseso Improved participation and accountability (everyone has an opportunity to participate
and be heard)o An easily accessible record of the discussion thought process
Types of QuestionsWell defined questions and their appropriate use cannot only help you understand
content on a basic level, but can also guide you and other students in critically thinking about content.
Actively engaging in critical thinking is at the heart of the questioning process. There are two basic types of critical thinking strategies:
(click on links below for detailed information)o Enhancing the focus of ideaso Extending patterns of thought
However, in doing this you must be careful to refrain from judgment and remain neutral when searching for solutions or new ideas. By encouraging multiple points of view you will create a discussion that challenges one-sided thought processes through the use of alternate points of view.
Types of Questions Cont.Discussions can be organized around the following types of
questions:Click the words below to view detailed information on each type of question.
Exploratory Challenge
Relational Hypothetical
Cause-and-Effect Summary and Synthesis
Evaluation Thought Provoking
Click to Proceed through slideshow
ExploratoryEncourage learning and extraction of
facts and development of basic knowledge. Make sure students aren’t asked to compare or relate material, simply ask them to recall or restate. For example, “What research evidence supports the theory that effective programs impose structure and limit learner control?”
Back To Types Of Questions Cont.
Challenge
Examine assumptions, conclusions, and interpretations. For example, “How else might we account for the findings of this research?”
Back To Types Of Questions Cont.
RelationalPrompt comparisons of themes, ideas or
issues. Form questions to target relationships among concepts, ideas, and information. For example, “Compare the benefits and challenges of asynchronous and synchronous learning. Which type of learning do you think promotes more effective group learning?”
Back To Types Of Questions Cont.
HypotheticalAsk participants to consider how changing the
circumstances of a case might alter the outcome. Frame questions by presenting problems that approximate real life situations, which would require participants to draw on their knowledge and experience to come up with plausible scenarios. For example, “How might this course have been more effective if it used video conferencing instead of audio conferencing?”
Back To Types Of Questions Cont.
Cause-and-EffectProvoke participants to explore cause-
and-effect linkages between ideas, actions or events. These kinds of questions encourage participants to investigate conventional wisdom and are fundamental to developing critical thinking. For example, “If internet access were free, would we have a digital divide?”
Back To Types Of Questions Cont.
Summary and SynthesisInvite participants to summarize or synthesize
what has been discussed in the readings. These questions call on participants to identify key ideas from the course material and think about them in ways that encourage creative and original thinking. For example, “What are the one or two most important ideas that emerged from this discussion? What do you understand better as a result of this module’s discussion?”
Back To Types Of Questions Cont.
Thought Provoking
Frame these questions when you want others to translate information, extrapolate ideas, or interpret information. Develop questions prompted by omissions, contradictions, ambiguities, unsupported assumptions, or unacknowledged ethical dilemmas within the reading material. For example, “Do you think that women have more challenges with distance education technology than men? Why or why not?”
Back To Types Of Questions Cont.
Evaluation
Draw out factual answers, test recall, or recognize critical information without asking for comparisons, relating material or making any inductive or deductive conclusions. For example, “According to the author, when were women granted the right to vote?”
Back To Types Of Questions Cont.
In order to enhance the focus you should identify central and divergent themes within the content being discussed. Key issues and/or covering areas that were not already discussed or need to be discussed further should be focused on.
Back To Types Of Questions
Deepening discussions, or extending patterns of thought, can be done by:
o Questioning assumptionso Exploring opinionso Trying to understand another’s
perspective
Back To Types Of Questions
Discussion StrategiesIn addition to various types of questions there are three useful strategies available to you for crafting your discussion questions.
Click links below to proceed to helpful strategies for starting your discussions
Illustrative Quotes
Opening Statements
Opinions
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Illustrative Quotes
Ask students to find one or two quotes they think illustrates the main idea of reading material
Ask students to choose passages they found hard to understand for interpretations
Post a number of questions relating to a chapter or section
Back To Discussion Strategies
Opening Statements
Start the discussion with a strongly worded statement, which will likely challenge assumptions
Play devil’s advocate and come up with evidence and rationales that are outside the usual frame of reference
Back To Discussion Strategies
Opinions
Make a statement based on your thoughts and justify it with research or text excerpts
Ask students to identify what parts of an assignment or reading is most confusing to them
Back To Discussion Strategies
Tips for Designing Online Questions
Here are several tips, based on other learner’s experiences, that may help in designing your questions for online discussions:Ensure your question is clearly statedTry to post brief, to-the-point questionsExpect diverse responses when working with diverse groups of learnersHumor and sarcasm often are mistaken online, try to avoid them!
Conclusion
In this lesson you have learned about:Various benefits of composing structured discussion questionsVarious types of questionsVarious strategies used to assist you in preparing questions
You are now ready to use what you have learned to compose quality, engaging questions.
Credits
Credits
Author:Lara Brown
This learning object was created for course ADLDSP 767 Program
Planning & Implementation.University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeInstructor: Simone Conceicao
Copyright © 2005