Using forums as collaborative learning tool.

[John Simkin]

In this excellent seminar Richard explains the various ways that online forums can be used by the history teacher. This includes: History Help (teachers provide learning support on a needs basis); Historical Debates (students discuss and construct and deconstruct interpretations of contentious events in history); Empathetic Simulations (students take on the role of historical characters); Remote Seminars (guest teacher leads a discussion with students on a topic of their particular expertise); Oral History (students interview an individual who was an eyewitness to event of historical importance); Remote Group Work (students prepare for a class activity by sharing ideas in a private online area).

Some of these approaches could obviously be used in other subject areas. For example, Help, Debates, Remote Seminars and Remote Group Work could be used by most subject teachers. Whereas others (Empathetic Simulations and Oral History) are more appropriate for history teaching. I would be interested in hearing if other subject specialists can come up with any other different ways that online forums can be used in education.

[John Simkin]

Other possibilities include:

History Dialogues: Put students in pairs and get them to debate important issues from the past. For example, a discussion between a supporter and opponent of universal suffrage in 1910.

Causes and Consequences: The teacher starts a thread such as “What caused the outbreak of the First World War?” Students then add one individual reason at a time. These might be disputed by other students therefore creating a debate on the issue. At the end of the exercise the students could make their own list on paper.

Historical Hypothesis: The teacher starts a thread with a controversial statement such as: “If Hitler had not ordered the invasion of the Soviet Union the UK would have been defeated by Germany.” The students are then invited to add information that supports or opposes the original hypothesis.

Expert Panels. A group of experts answer questions from students or become involved in a debate over a particular issue. For example, the intended session on the assassination of John F. Kennedy.