Online learning has become an expectation of students, especially post-pandemic and in postgraduate environments where students are often juggling work, family, and study demands. Many students like the flexibility that asynchronous study can offer, but also want to interact with their peers and teachers and to feel part of a learning community. We often use discussion boards to try deliver on these expectations, but evidence and our experience shows that discussion boards are a poor imitation of ‘live’ interaction. Some students simply opt to not engage at all, feeling their time is better spent elsewhere. This means that students who try to generate interaction with their peers are often left frustrated and disappointed with the level of interaction. Others report feeling like every post needs to be carefully researched, increasing the workload demands and leading to burnout. This workshop will explore what we can do to deliver a satisfying and effective learning experience in asynchronous environments. Through discussion and brainstorming activities, we will explore: Is ‘interaction’ possible in asynchronous environments? If so, what does it look like? When should discussion boards be used and what are the alternatives?
Teaching@Sydney