Instructional design/Discussion Roles/Assessment: Recognizing Examples and Non-Examples of Instructor Roles

 {The instructor makes sure the classroom is set up so that all learners face the front of the room where the instructor sits. - Example + Non-Example
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 * The above scenario is a non-example of instructor behavior. Instructors practicing discussion approach theory should arrange the classroom (whenever possible), so that all participants can face one another.

{The instructor will pose a question and let students respond until the correct answer is given. - Example + Non-Example
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 * This is tricky, but this is a non-example of instructor behavior. The key here is that the instructor has posed a question that has a single correct answer.  In discussion approach classrooms, the questions that are posed should be open-ended and should generate discussion rather than correct answers.

{Each class session begins with the instructor posting the session goals. + Example - Non-Example
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 * If you said this was an example of instructor behavior, well done! Though the discussion should proceed as organically, as possible, the participants are still responsible for covering certain material or meeting certain objectives, so it is best for everyone to understand the goals for the session.

{After a learner has made a contribution to the discussion, the instructor always responds directly to that learner. - Example + Non-Example
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 * This is another trickier question, so if you said non-example, give yourself a pat on the back! While it is true that the instructor needs to consistently respond to learners and provide feedback, encouragement, or follow-up questions, it is not true that the instructor must always respond to each individual learner.  In fact, it is better for the instructor to encourage peer-to-peer interaction so that learners frequently respond directly to one another.

{On the first day of class, the instructor circulates a brief questionnaire to gather some personal information, including preferred name or nickname. He uses this information to identify each student during discussion. + Example - Non-Example
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 * This is a great example of instructor behavior! It shows clear respect for learners as individuals when the instructor calls each person by their preferred name and this can help to make each student feel more comfortable and more likely to participate in the class.

{When an interval of 30 seconds has passed after the instructor poses a question, she will simply answer the question to keep the discussion moving. - Example + Non-Example Click to return to the lesson when you have completed the self-assessment
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 * Hopefully, you answered non-example in response to this scenario! Not only should instructors feel comfortable waiting for a response in silence for a lengthy period of time (a minute or two), but instructors should refrain from answering the question when this interval has passed and instead should rephrase or clarify the question.

 Click to return to the lesson when you have completed the self-assessment