Academic Discourse in the Classroom

In partnership with Model Teaching, an industry leader in supporting educators, this online course focuses on discourse in the classroom, helping you design and facilitate effective academic discussions. You will learn to plan discussions, craft strong prompts, and support student engagement. You will leave this course with the tools needed to successfully implement classroom discussion strategies and support students in learning your lesson content.

3 Months / 1 Course Hrs

Open Enrollment

Offered in partnership with your preferred school

Eastern Oklahoma State College

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Learning method

Self-Guided

$50

No instructor. Study on your own schedule

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Details + Objectives

Course code: T15126

This course will guide you in designing and facilitating effective academic discussions in the classroom. You will explore a step-by-step process for planning and effectively implementing discussions. You will learn to craft strong discussion prompts and support students in engaging in rigorous conversations.

Additionally, you will analyze exemplary discussions across different classroom settings to discover strategies for fostering meaningful student engagement. You will leave the course with several preparation resources to help you implement academic discussion effectively in your classroom.

What you will learn

Define academic discussion and understand how it applies in a variety of classroom contexts
Plan for guiding questions to ensure full student participation in the discussion
Evaluate discussion models and methods for student interaction
Analyze the main components of effective discussion, including the specific purpose, student preparation, and opportunities for reflection
Compare various classroom settings that incorporate student discussion to identify the key components that make them effective

How you will benefit

Foster a more engaging classroom, with students learning content via discussion with one another
Establish clearer expectations for your students, which will result in them meeting your expectations and improving academically
Improve student accountability in your classroom

How the course is taught

Self-Guided, online course
3 Months access
1 course hours

Outline

Section 1: Instructional Content

Lesson Delivery: What is academic discussion?

Discussion Board Reflection: Reflection on your use of academic discussion in past lessons.

Section 2: Instructional Content

Lesson Delivery: Planning for academic discussion.

Discussion Board Reflection: Analyze a lesson that can be modified to include explicit academic discussions.

Section 3 Instructional Content

Lesson Delivery: The purpose of academic discussion.

Discussion Board Reflection: Consider an upcoming lesson and plan the purpose of your discussion.

Section 4 Instructional Content

Lesson Delivery: Common discussion models.

Discussion Board Reflection: Choose a common discussion model that aligns with your purpose.

Section 5 Instructional Content

Lesson Delivery: Crafting the right questions for discussion.

Discussion Board Reflection: Plan your questions that will be used as starting prompts for your academic discussion.

Section 6 Instructional Content

Lesson Delivery: Preparing for your students for discussion.

Discussion Board Reflection: Plan the lesson content and other prior knowledge required for students before the discussion can take place.

Section 7 Instructional Content

Lesson Delivery: Planning your resources for students to access to facilitate discussion.

Discussion Board Reflection: List the resources that will be available to your students for their upcoming discussion.

Section 8 Instructional Content

Lesson Delivery: Supporting and engaging students during discussion.

Discussion Board Reflection: Plan your supporting questioning prompts and other scaffolds, and engagement methods during the discussion.

Section 9 Instructional Content

Lesson Delivery: Planning the student opportunities for reflection after discussion.

Discussion Board Reflection: Create reflection questions and activities for students to complete after their discussions.

Section 10 Instructional Content

Lesson Delivery: Evaluating an exemplar discussion.

Discussion Board Reflection: Build a checklist of items to look for as you plan your own exemplar discussion.

Putting it All Together

Action Plan: Design a comprehension lesson plan that includes student academic discussion as a main component of learning.

Applying What You Have Learned

Get ideas on how to implement the concepts into your classroom, find a list of online resources that support academic discussions, and read the research behind student discourse that supports this evidence-based professional development.

Instructors & Support

Self-Study

Requirements

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

PC: Windows 10 or later.
Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
Microsoft Word Online
- Editing of a Microsoft Word document is required in this course. You may use a free version of Microsoft Word Online, or Google Docs if you do not have Microsoft Office installed on your computer. You may be required to download documents.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

FAQ

Your course begins immediately after you enroll.

You have 3 months of access to the course. After enrolling, you can learn and complete the course at your own pace, within the allotted access period. You will have the opportunity to interact with other students in the online discussion area.

There is no time limit to complete each lesson, other than completing all lessons within the allotted access period. Discussion areas for each lesson are open for the entire duration of the course.

Because this course is self-guided, no extensions will be granted after the start of your enrollment.

Academic Discourse in the Classroom

Eastern Oklahoma State College