The document discusses strategies for promoting interaction in online courses. It begins by explaining that interaction leads to greater student effort, learning, and satisfaction. However, the term "interaction" and how to elicit it in online learning is often unclear. Interaction is defined as mutual or reciprocal influence between students and instructors, among students, and between students and course content. Some strategies proposed to promote interactive learning include partner/group activities, asynchronous discussions, project-based work, debates to explore different perspectives, cooperative research in small groups, synchronous chats, public tutorials, and brainstorming activities.

1. Promoting InteractionPromoting Interaction
Teaching onlineTeaching online

2. InteractionInteraction
Interaction often leads to more studentInteraction often leads to more student
effort, more student learning, and moreeffort, more student learning, and more
student satisfaction with the learningstudent satisfaction with the learning
experience.experience.
However, it is often unclear exactly what isHowever, it is often unclear exactly what is
meant by the term "interaction" in onlinemeant by the term "interaction" in online
learning, to what specific ends it is beinglearning, to what specific ends it is being
invoked, and how best to elicit it.invoked, and how best to elicit it.

3. What do we mean by
"Interaction?"
Generally, in learning situations,Generally, in learning situations,
interaction refers to the "mutual orinteraction refers to the "mutual or
reciprocal action or influence" thatreciprocal action or influence" that
occurs:occurs:
Between student and instructor.Between student and instructor.
Among students.Among students.
Between students and the content theyBetween students and the content they
are attempting to learn.are attempting to learn.

5. Why use interaction in online
courses?
 To increase participation and socialTo increase participation and social
engagement in the learning groupengagement in the learning group
 To encourage feedback from peers aboutTo encourage feedback from peers about
performance, expectations, and attitudesperformance, expectations, and attitudes
 To increase motivationTo increase motivation
 To enhance understanding of teamTo enhance understanding of team
development and dynamicdevelopment and dynamic
 For clarification of understanding orFor clarification of understanding or
interpretationinterpretation

6. Why use interaction in online
courses?
 To develop both expressive and receptiveTo develop both expressive and receptive
communication skillscommunication skills
 To enhance elaboration and retention ofTo enhance elaboration and retention of
newly learned informationnewly learned information
 For negotiation of understanding
 To augment the cross-fertilization of ideas forTo augment the cross-fertilization of ideas for
the discovery and exploration of newthe discovery and exploration of new
conceptsconcepts
 For closureFor closure

7. What are some strategies that one mightWhat are some strategies that one might
use to promote interactive learning?use to promote interactive learning?
 Partner or Dyad Activities
"Please"Please
conference/share/check/review/discussconference/share/check/review/discuss
with your assigned "buddy" the advantageswith your assigned "buddy" the advantages
and disadvantages of _______, and email aand disadvantages of _______, and email a
summary to me by______.”summary to me by______.”

8. What are some strategies that one mightWhat are some strategies that one might
use to promote interactive learning?use to promote interactive learning?
 Asynchronous Group Discussions
"Please sign up to lead a discussion with your"Please sign up to lead a discussion with your
discussion group for one of the topics/weeksdiscussion group for one of the topics/weeks
listed below. Also, sign up to be alisted below. Also, sign up to be a
summarizer of the class discussion forsummarizer of the class discussion for
another topic/week.”another topic/week.”

9. What are some strategies that one mightWhat are some strategies that one might
use to promote interactive learning?use to promote interactive learning?
 Project-Based Ventures
"Each workgroup of 4-5 students will create"Each workgroup of 4-5 students will create
a grant proposal for the development of aa grant proposal for the development of a
_________. Please describe your basic_________. Please describe your basic
assumptions, goals and objectives, potentialassumptions, goals and objectives, potential
funding sources, project timeline, budget,funding sources, project timeline, budget,
marketing plans, etc.”marketing plans, etc.”

10. What are some strategies that one mightWhat are some strategies that one might
use to promote interactive learning?use to promote interactive learning?
 Planned Controversy
"You will be paired with another student,"You will be paired with another student,
and then each of you will be asked to takeand then each of you will be asked to take
pro and con sides of a debate onpro and con sides of a debate on
___________. After one week, these roles will___________. After one week, these roles will
be reversed. Then, along with your team,be reversed. Then, along with your team,
you will be asked to write a consensusyou will be asked to write a consensus
paper.”paper.”

11. What are some strategies that one mightWhat are some strategies that one might
use to promote interactive learning?use to promote interactive learning?
 Cooperative Group Research
"Each student in a workgroup will select a"Each student in a workgroup will select a
related mini-topic in which to become anrelated mini-topic in which to become an
expert. She/he will then share his or herexpert. She/he will then share his or her
findings with the group. Mini-topics willfindings with the group. Mini-topics will
ultimately be combined into a joint groupultimately be combined into a joint group
composition, literature review, or othercomposition, literature review, or other
written product.”written product.”

12. What are some strategies that one mightWhat are some strategies that one might
use to promote interactive learning?use to promote interactive learning?
 Synchronous Chats
"On this Thursday PM, we'll be discussing"On this Thursday PM, we'll be discussing
_______ in a realtime chat along with visiting_______ in a realtime chat along with visiting
professor, Dr. Whizbang. Following thisprofessor, Dr. Whizbang. Following this
discussion, I'd like you to join with your teamdiscussion, I'd like you to join with your team
in the assigned Threaded Discussion Centerin the assigned Threaded Discussion Center
and summarize the issues related to thisand summarize the issues related to this
situation.”situation.”

13. What are some strategies that one mightWhat are some strategies that one might
use to promote interactive learning?use to promote interactive learning?
 Public Tutorial
"In the Discussion Forum, please pose a"In the Discussion Forum, please pose a
topic/question that you find to betopic/question that you find to be
particularly challenging. Your classmates willparticularly challenging. Your classmates will
serve as collective tutors and assist you inserve as collective tutors and assist you in
elaborating your understanding/answer.”elaborating your understanding/answer.”

14. What are some strategies that one mightWhat are some strategies that one might
use to promote interactive learning?use to promote interactive learning?
 Brainstorming
"Over the next day, brainstorm strategies for"Over the next day, brainstorm strategies for
solving problem X described in the assignedsolving problem X described in the assigned
article. Focus on (1) quantity or more ideas;article. Focus on (1) quantity or more ideas;
(2) the wilder the better; (3) suspending(2) the wilder the better; (3) suspending
evaluation; and (4) building on, combining,evaluation; and (4) building on, combining,
or improving ideas already mentioned.”or improving ideas already mentioned.”