Introduction
In this article we will walk you through the intended purpose of Discussion on Work.
Interaction is a key determinant of successful learning, as knowledge is constantly constructed and shaped while learners engage in different levels of interactions, namely student – student; student – teacher; and student – content. Given the lack of physical contact in online settings, it is challenging to generate, and maintain such interactions. Read more about the role of interaction↗
Discussion on Work is the tool to increase interactivity in online environment, by encouraging students to engage in meaningful conversations.
In this article, we will focus on the Discussion on Work. Below, you can find our user guides for this feature:
How It Works
Discussion on Work tool facilitates collaborative learning by enabling students to submit their work and engage in structured peer discussions. Students can hand in individual or group submissions and participate in meaningful discussions about their peers' work, guided by prompts set by the instructor. Teachers can customize settings such as deadlines, peer allocation, and evaluation criteria to align with their learning goals.
The tool provides analytics to monitor progress and ensure active participation, fostering critical thinking, constructive feedback, and deeper engagement with course material.
Highlighted Features
Analytics on student participation: Provide detailed analytics on student participation and progress in the assignments, from which teachers can identify who has completed the required steps and which students might need help.
Filters and sorting option: Allow teachers and students to identify which comments or points to focus on with multiple ways of filtering and sorting the discussion input: the most (least) comments, the most upvotes, and more.
Most valuable contributions: Let students select certain peers’ contributions that they found most valuable to increase autonomy and avoid free-riding.
Selecting most valuable contribution
Reflection: Set up a reflection step at the end of the activity, in which students write a reflection on what they learned from the discussion assignment. This helps promote critical thinking and deeper learning.
Reflection section
Turnitin integration: If the institution has a license with Turnitin, instructors can enable plagiarism check setting for students to have their submissions reviewed for plagiarism by Turnitin before the discussion activity.
Plagiarism check
Benefits of using Discussion on Work
This tool fosters a sense of community among students. Here are the key benefits of using it:
Enhanced Peer Learning: It promotes collaborative learning by allowing students to review, discuss, and provide feedback on each other's work, helping them develop critical thinking and reflective skills.
Customizable and Structured Engagement: Teachers can tailor the discussion process by setting deadlines, assigning peers, and defining evaluation criteria, ensuring that the discussions align with learning objectives and are well-organized.
In-depth Progress Insights: The tool provides detailed analytics on student participation, including submission status, comments made, and time spent, enabling teachers to monitor engagement and identify areas for improvement effectively.