Preparing to Teach Online

Often the first chapter in a developmental textbook is considered very difficult. For most texts, including your current book, the first chapter introduces the learner to a variety of theories (and theorists). While we will be discussing and fleshing out these theories throughout the semester, it can be a little overwhelming when they are all presented at the same time. For this reason, your first forum assignment will be to identify and discuss the concept that you found to be the most difficult/confusing in the introductory chapter. Tell me why you think this particular idea was "tricky". The forum will post on Wednesday, 6/10, and remain open until Monday, 6/15. As mentioned in your syllabus and in the first posted video, these forums will be part of your class participation grade. 

Due Date (for both posts):  Tues, June 16, 11:59 pm

Assignment: 
1. View the flipgrid for "Muddiest Point" on the Epidemiology Lesson to see concepts that were confusing for your classmates.  These short videos from your classmates will be the basis for your Forum posts.  You will be required to post at least twice and up to 5 times in the Forum.  
2. Create an original post.  You must identify one of the "muddiest points" in the flipgrid and create a topic thread in the forum to help clarify one of them.  Your forum post must meet the following requirements:

·        Clearly restate a "muddiest point" identified by a student from the flipgrid exercise.

·        Include appropriate context for the issue (e.g., "This issue is related to how to interpret transmission rates in the 'How  Diseases Spread' Simutext.")

·        Include a CLEARLY WRITTEN explanation of the concept, in a way that should be able to clear up the issue for your classmate(s).

·        Identify what resource(s) you used to get your information.

·        Your post should be 50-1oo words.

3. Reply to at least one more post, you must view a separate topic thread in the Forum and contribute to that discussion.  In this case, you should provide additional helpful feedback.  Some options are: 

·        Agree with the student who posted the thread if you think they appropriately addressed and clarified the muddy point and explain why; add helpful feedback that supports your stance, if possible. Identify what resource(s) you used to get your information.

·        If you think the a post is off the mark, explain why.  Offer additional clarification.  Identify what resource(s) you used to get your information.

·        Further the discussion by asking follow up question, providing a real-world example, make a connection to something else in class or to other student comments, etc. Identify what resource(s) you used to get your information.

Grading rubric:
Original Post (5 points)

a.     muddiest point clearly identified (1 point)

b.     appropriate context included (1 point)

c.      clearly written clarification (1 point)

d.     resources identified (0.5 points)

e.     50-100 words (1 point)

f.       Spelling/grammar (0.5 points)

Reply to other Post (3 points)

a.     At least one response is given (1 point)

b.     Response helps to clarify point/adds additional support/or otherwise furthers the discussion (1 point)

c.      Resource identified (0.5 points)

d.     Spelling/grammar (0.5 points)

* Each partner should summarize two aspects (describe the study system of the paper, state the research question or hypothesis of the paper, describe the experimental or observational methods used in the paper, describe the statistical analysis of the paper, summarize the main result(s) of the paper). 

* The other partner should summarize two other aspects of the paper that your partner has not done already.

* Each student should reply to their partner's initial post by synthesizing some aspect of the two initial posts (e.g., how does the description of the research question as described by student 1 relate to the main result that student 2 posted on?). In your response post, you should also describe how this paper or study is similar or will be helpful to your own project.

* Both initial posts and replies are due by the start of the 2nd week of class and will be graded on how closely you've followed the instructions, how thorough your posts are, and the level of synthesis in your replies.

Please submit your post by 11:59PM on Thursday. You should reply to one other student's post in a thoughtful manner by 11:59PM on Friday. 

According to Bolman and Deal, human beings have a tough time identifying when their strategy is misguided and blame others instead. As we have read in How Great Leaders Think, “Neuroscientists tell us belief comes first, explanations for beliefs follow.” Discuss how a good frame helps leaders and team members to see options and understand and work toward positive outcomes? Feel free to use Alain DeBotton’s TED Talk as a model, or an example from our reading, or share in a personal example. (200 words)  

TOPIC: Cinema as a Haunted House

FILMS: Poltergeist (Tobe Hooper, 1982) and Paranormal Activity (Oren Peli, 2007) 

BLOG POST: Now that we've seen two types of Haunting films, compare the differences in content as to "what" was being haunted in the two. Consider the times which they were made and incorporate the societal family dynamics that may or may not have influenced the story arc as a whole. 

Use our reading from Tom Gunning's "Phantom Images and Modern Manifestations" to frame how cinema highlights/mutes your particular reading of the "haunting" in the films, what the haunting may/may not represent, and create a thesis/supporting argument for your POV. 

Topic: Observation of a classical performance and historical period.

In your post, summarized the a classical performance that you attended or watch in its entirety and then discuss the historical background of one of the pieces and the stylistic traits that help to define that period. Then ask a question to another student about the performance they attended.

Congratulations - this week, you have learned all about Instruction Sets in Assembly Language. Let's talk a bit about the topics which you did NOT understand.

No later than NEXT FRIDAY at 11:59pm, describe the instruction set topic or topics that gave you the most difficulty in understanding. What seemed to cause the confusion for you, and what information did you wish you had to help with your understanding?

If you can help your peers with their topic of difficulty with a solution that was effective for you and your understanding, please respond to their posts with your thoughts by next Friday at 11:59pm. (Reminder - this forum discussion is a JUDGEMENT-FREE space, so no inconsiderate feedback will be tolerated.)