"Wow, That is So Fun!" Text-Based Classroom Discussion Texas Education Innovators

In our visit with Dr Diane Schallert, professor in the Department of Educational Psychology, we hear the story of the introduction of synchronous online chat to her courses in the mid 1990s. Her enthusiasm for learning is matched by her fascination for how people learn together both by talking out loud and through keyboards. Diane shares the important research she and her students have conducted into how typing changes the interactions in classrooms, allowing those students who may not have had an opportunity to speak up to gain a new voice. She includes tips for instructors - and others - who want to facilitate rich online conversations for learning.

Be sure to listen until the end for a hopeful message about online politeness.
For additional readings and transcript, visit: http://sites.edb.utexas.edu/texas-education-innovators/