Pawel Goral

Videoconferencing in Online Learning – A Synchronous Addition as a Means of Improving the Quality of Digital Environment

Pawel Goral, PhD

Adjunct Professor, Department of History, UT Arlington

Pawel Goral, Ph.D., is an adjunct professor of history at the University of Texas at Arlington and the author of “Cold War Rivalry and the Perception of the American West: How Both the Westerners and the Easterners Played Cowboys and Indians.”

Peggy Semingson

Pawel

This was a very clear presentation about the addition of synchronous learning within your WW2 course. I was intrigued by your topic because you did a book club style discussion, which is a similar format. You had a lot of flexibility for when they could participate.

What was the structure/format for the book club? Did you send out questions ahead of time and did they have to submit something?

Maybe the lower numbers who chose the book club assignment (over writing a paper) was because it was “new” to them? I agree with you, the interaction required in a book club does require them to be more prepared.

Can you get students to write a 1-3 sentence “testimonial” saying what they learned and the benefits/advantages of the online book club? That might motivate their peers in present and/or future semesters to participate.

-Peggy
- Pawel
  
  Thank you for your comment. It was supposed to a book club style discussion, but then again, it did not really work out that way. I think that one of the reasons is that when I organized it, students were already familiar with my expectations as far as papers were concerned, and if they did a good job before, they had no reason (or perhaps I should say incentive?) to change the format in which they complete the assignment.
  I did not send questions ahead of time - I did not want anyone to be tempted to find answers online - I was interested in what students had to say and did not want other people’s reviews to influence their thinking. I agree with what you wrote - they must be well prepared to participate in it, and that could be a factor that discouraged them from participating in the sessions.
  I like the idea of “testimonials.” I should have thought about it. I also think that while those students who participated liked the synchronous discussions, they should be implemented at the beginning of the semester in order for them to work better, not as an alternative later on - a lesson learned.
  Thanks again!
  Pawel
  - Jiyoon Yoon
    
    I like the idea of “Testimonials”! I will also add this for my synchronous learning study with my students! And I will share how it turn out with you~
Karabi

Hi Pawel - Really like the idea of discussing a book in a synchronous session. And yes, in order for such book-club styled conversations, participants must read the book in order to contribute. I am actually surprised that 6 opted for this, even though there was an alternative assignment. Was this graded? Grades are generally great incentives for recruiting students as I have seen in my synchronous sessions. Nevertheless, this is really an interesting way to encourage interaction. Thanks.
Kiva Harper

Hi Pawel

I love this idea. Scheduling always seems to be the challenge with online learners. How did you determine when you would have the discussions?
Christopher Simpson

Hello Pawel, This is a really interesting idea, one I wish had been done while I was a student.
Denise Cauble

Pawel, great start on a book club format! I have been wanting to do something like this with a nursing research article in a “salon” format but think I will try an online session where students would sign up beforehand and come prepared to participate. Thanks for the inspiration!