Initial Publication Date: May 12, 2021

Implementation Group: Teaching Online

Overview

This discussion group is structured to respond organically to whatever is happening in participants' online or hybrid geoscience courses through regularly scheduled asynchronous reflections and synchronous discussions. It is based on the premise that we can improve our teaching by forming a community of practice to share what works best in our own online courses and to brainstorm solutions to challenges.

Discussion series goals

Participants will share strategies, challenges, and solutions for teaching geoscience in fully online or hybrid formats.

Structure and format

Before each meeting:

Each participant will write a brief answer to at least one of three reflection questions and post it to the discussion board. These reflections will serve as the foundation for the synchronous discussions.

In the past two weeks, what have you done in your online or hybrid course that worked particularly well? In retrospect, why do you think it was so successful?
In the past two weeks, what have you done in your online or hybrid course that didn't go as well as you had hoped it would? In retrospect, why do you think it was less successful than you had thought it would be?
What are you planning to do in your online or hybrid course in the next two weeks, that you would like feedback or suggestions on from the other participants?

Participants read and respond to each other's posts.

During each meeting:

We discuss themes arising from the asynchronous reflections.

Timing

This discussion group met 3 times, with two week intervals between synchronous meetings. It could easily have been extended to meet throughout an academic term.