Pedagogy of Using Chat Rooms

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Pedagogy of Using Chat Rooms

• Maggie McVay Lynch, Ed.D.
• Portland State University

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Role of the Instructor

• Pedagogical
• Social
• Managerial

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Pedagogical

• Clear objectives
• Flexibility
• Participation
• Non-authoritarian
• Offline materials?
• Private conversations
• Unifying threads

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Pedagogical

• Use discrete assignments
• Make material relevant
• Specify required contributions
• Invite Visiting Experts
• Dont Lecture
• Request Responses

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Social

• Lurker acceptance?
• Guard against fear
• Watch humor or sarcasm
• Use introductions
• Facilitate interactivity
• Praise and model
• Dont ignore bad behavior

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Managerial

• Informal
• Participant List
• Responsiveness
• Synchronize and resynchronize
• Procedural leadership
• Use email as prompt
• Clear expectations

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Managerial

• Dont overload
• Handle tangents appropriately
• Vary participant contribution
• Use student leaders
• End sessions decisively
• Provide feedback

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Practice Role Play

• http//web.pdx.edu/mmlynch/bridges.html
• Set up scenario
• Clearly define characters
• Assign characters, particularly lead-off
  assignments