Before the first discussion, read these Ground Rules for Online Discussions. You will be expected to adhere to them. Failure to do so will result in deductions to your grade and, possibly, writing projects to complete in lieu of participating in the discussions.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR DISCUSSION LEADERS
Each discussion group will have a leader, a role that will rotate among group members throughout the semester. Discussion leaders will receive suggested discussion topics via email from me the day before the discussion. The scheduled rotation of discussion leaders will be posted on the group pages. If you are designated as the leader on the Discussion Group page and you do not receive an email with the suggested topics the day before the discussion you’re leading, please let me know ASAP.
On days designated for online discussion (refer to class schedule), discussion leaders must check in by 10:05 a.m., by posting in the “Post a comment” box at the bottom of the group page. Ask all other group members to check in by replying to your check-in post. Leaders should introduce the first topic by 10:12 a.m., again by posting in the “Post a comment” box and asking group members to reply.
You must log in to the site for the discussion, otherwise your questions and comments will not post directly.
You should post discussion topics one at a time. You can use the ones that I send to you. Or if you come up with your own topics related to the week’s readings and videos, you can post those. Either way, you are not required to post all the possible topics I send. Some topics will generate more discussion, others less. Use your judgment on when to post a new topic. Generally, you’ll want to post a new topic approximately every 10-12 minutes.
In addition to leading the discussion, leaders must send attendance reports and “best-of” reports. Leaders do not have to participate in the discussion but can if they would like.
The attendance report must include these things:
- The names of all group members (including you) who participated in the discussion
- The names of any group members who did not participate
- The check-in and check-out times of each group member who participated
- The number of comments for each group member (not including the check-in and check-out posts) who participated
You must email teaching assistant Christina Kirchner (cmk76871@uga.edu) the attendance report by 10 p.m. on the day of the discussion. Include your group number in the subject line of the email.
Christina will be spot-checking the attendance reports. If we find that a discussion leader has intentionally misreported attendance or comment tallies, that leader will be assessed a two-point deduction to his or her overall class grade.
For the best-of report, the leader should choose what he or she thinks is the best comment posted on each discussion topic. Send the list of comments to Christina by noon the day after the discussion. Include your group number in the subject line of the email.
If a discussion leader misses a deadline — for checking into the discussion, for sending the attendance report or for sending the best-of report — that leader will be assessed a one-point deduction to his or her overall class grade for each deadline missed.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL OTHER GROUP MEMBERS
On days designated for online discussion (refer to class schedule), you must log into the site and check in on your assigned group page by 10:10 a.m. by replying to the discussion leader’s check-in post WITH YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME. Including your name in your check-in is critical for marking your attendance and monitoring your discussion participation.
At 10:10 a.m., discussion leaders will introduce the first topic by posting again in the “Post a comment” box. Odd-numbered group members should comment directly on the first two topics the group leader introduces by clicking on “Reply” underneath the leader’s post. Even-numbered group members should wait to read the comments on the first two topics, then post feedback to at least one comment on each topic. Please remember to click on “Reply” rather than filling in the “Post a comment” box when commenting on topics and when posting feedback on a fellow group member’s post.
For the last two topics, even-numbered group members should comment directly on the prompts posted by the group discussion leader. Odd-numbered group members should wait to read the comments on the last two topics, then post feedback to at least one comment on each topic.
*****Make sure you log in to the site for the discussion. If you are not logged in, you will not be able to directly post comments and therefore will be marked as absent.*****
You must contribute at least four comments to the overall discussion during the scheduled discussion time. Comments directly addressing the topics and the feedback on your group members’ insights both count.
Your comments should draw on the course material while also making creative and substantive points that extend beyond the material. Your comments should provide context, thoughts and/or insight. Short comments such as “I agree” or “great point” do not count. Feel free to contribute more than four. Your check-in and check-out posts do not count toward the four
Remember this is supposed to be a discussion — an exchange of perspectives and ideas. I am not looking for right or wrong answers in the discussion, just well-thought engagement in the topics.
At all times, be respectful of everyone else’s statements and opinions. If I or Christina see that you are not being respectful, or if we see that you are being profane, offensive or inappropriate within the context of academic discussion, I will remove you from the online discussion for the semester and instead assign you a 15-page research paper on a topic of my choosing.
You must be an active participant in the discussion until 11 a.m. At 11 a.m., the discussion leader will check out by posting in the “Post a comment” box. You need to check out by clicking on “Reply” underneath the leader’s check-out post and typing your first and last name.
If you check in later than 10:10 a.m. or check out earlier than 11 a.m., you will be assessed a one-point deduction to your grade.
We will be tracking the “best-of” comments that discussion group leaders send us throughout the semester. Whomever posts the most best-of comments will be awarded five extra-credit points. The student in second place will earn three points, and third place will get one point.