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Communicate 2 - Synchronous Sessions

Answer: How does integrating synchronous learning sessions within the online environment assist in developing a learning community for students?
Synchronous sessions "humanize" the online classroom, bridging the digital divide and helping learners get the full experience of working with others. Students receive the crucial element of real-time feedback, which unlike a discussion forum, includes visual/verbal cues. Comments and feedback mean so much more when the recipient can read body language and tone of voice and can express these in their own communication as well.

 Another benefit of these sessions is that students develop a session of connectedness with other learners. Putting names with faces helps them develop a sense of involvement and reinforces that they have a support network during this learning process. Through strategic planning for elements such as breakout groups, instructors can differentiate learning and promote teamwork among groups of learners just as they would in the traditional classroom.

 Artifact: Create an outline or lesson plan of a 30 minute synchronous session which you would facilitate.
0:00 - 3:00
Student sign-in, warm up, and tech check
  • 3 minute video timer plays in upper corner of the screen.

  • As video plays, students are to:
    • ensure they can view my shared screen
    • ensure they can hear the audio
    • ensure their webcam/mic are connected but on mute
    • review the activator/warm up and begin working on a response
  • Activator/Warm Up: Plant or animal? Be ready to explain your thinking

  • Use a polling tool to gather responses: Plant or Animal.
3:00-5:00
Discuss phenomenon together
  • Share poll results on-screen.
  • Ask students to use "raise your hand" tool and select participants to share their observations or reasons for their choice of plant or animal via webcam or mic.
  • Opinions can be shared through live chat as well.
  • Reinforce positive points offered on each side of the arguments, but do not disclose answer to phenomenon.
5:00-15:00
10 minute mini-lecture on photosynthesis.
  • Relate this cell process back to previous lessons on cell structures to reiterate the relationship between structure and function.
  • Present reactants and products of the process
  • Emphasize their chemical formulas
  • Emphasize where they are coming from/going
  • Ongoing Q&A with live chat
  • Toward the end of the mini-lecture, ask students to present the process as an equation
  • May use words or formulas
  • May write it out and share a screenshot
  • May type it into chat
  • Share correct equation in word and formula form
15:00-18:00
3 minute problem - formative assessment
  • 3 minute countdown plays again as students balance the equation for photosynthesis (a skill they should have mastered in a previous course).
  • Show their work on paper with a screenshot or type into chat
18:00-28:00
10 minute breakout group
  • Use results of poll to create breakout groups of no more than 5 students each that chose the same response in the poll.
  • Students will work in a breakout group to research the organism presented in the activator/warm up. Links may be provided as needed for struggling learners.
  • Goal: reach a consensus as a group on the classification of this organism as a plant or animal.
  • Teacher will check in with each group during the 10 minute window.
28:00-30:00
Reconvene for closing comments.
  • Ask for an updated poll on plant or animal. Actual classification will be shared later in the week in a discussion board.
  • Provide details on this week's concept map task.
  • Students will create a concept map to illustrate the process of photosynthesis.
  • Must include an image to illustrate the process; all products, reactants and where they come from/go; descriptions of steps.
  • May be completed on paper and submit a scan/screenshot.
  • May be completed using a tech tool of choice.
  • Highlight 1-2 tech tools that could be used to generate product.
  • Discuss deadlines for submission and check for questions.
  • Share on Forum by deadline for peer feedback.

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