BOOK: AOD Foundations

Be aware of the diversity of your learners: Acknowledge the varied backgrounds and experiences of learners to tailor discussions that are inclusive and considerate of different perspectives.

Set boundaries and conditions for discussions: Establish clear rules and expectations to ensure respectful and constructive interactions among participants.

Ensure discussions serve an additional learning goal: Align discussion activities with specific learning outcomes to enhance their educational value.

Design tasks that encourage participation: Use open-ended questions and real-world scenarios to stimulate deeper engagement and reflection.

Have criteria for responding to comments: Select comments based on their quality or relevance to your expertise to manage large volumes of interactions effectively.

Ensure continuity when you contribute: Frame your inputs in a way that encourages further discussion rather than closing down conversation.

Provide a balanced ‘instructor presence’: Balance your role between facilitating learning (teaching presence) and creating a supportive, social environment (social presence).

Support and challenge learners' thinking: Encourage learners to reflect deeply on topics, pushing them towards higher levels of understanding.

Provide explicit academic leadership: Guide discussions by clarifying misconceptions, focusing debates on key concepts, and summarizing key points to ensure learners remain on track.

Direct social contributions towards shared goals: Use social interactions to reinforce the group's academic focus and foster a sense of belonging and purpose.

Acknowledge lurking and minimize barriers to participation: Recognize the value of lurkers and reduce barriers to encourage more active engagement from all learners.

Choose your teaching team and educator roles strategically: Select and assign roles within your teaching team based on the ability to engage learners and contribute effectively to discussions.