Asynchronous Discussion Assignment
Purpose
Discussions inevitably turn into leader-talk. Sometimes the other members of the community are unprepared, so they have no content to discuss. Sometimes they do not have discussion skills. Sometimes the leader feels compelled to fill every awkward silence. The asynchronous design of our online discussion slows down time and allows for a more mindful discussion. Talking in "slow motion" should help us reflect on the reading and listen closely to each other. The challenge is to bring an author's words and ideas into our discussion, so we might think beyond our assumptions.
This is not a time for idle chatter. It is not the blind defense of our assumptions. Our discussion is not grounded solely by our personal beliefs and prior experiences. It is not about promoting a personal agenda with no acknowledgment of what others have to say. It is not a series of random observations. This is a time to think about the text and listen to others.
An educative discussion is purposeful: an effort to move beyond our assumptions and develop an awareness of our ignorance. It is informed the content we study. It is filled with new language and ideas that shape new points of view. It is respectful and responsive to what others have to say. It pursues lines of inquiry while constantly branching into new questions.
Expectations
A "substantive" posting of @ 200 words with the following:
● specific acknowledgement of a previous posting by specifically citing ideas or language from the previous posting
● specific (cited for others to find) references to the readings to demonstrate your understanding of how the text adds to the discussion
● introduction of a new and related topic or perspective designed to advance the discussion and our understanding of some aspect of the reading
● close with a prompt like an open-ended question or claim designed to move the discussion to a new and logical next step
● correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation
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