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Moderating Techniques

1) A Framework for Designing Questions for Online Learning
Lin Muilenburg and Zane L. Berge, Berge Collins Associates.
This article describes a theoretical framework for designing questions for starting online discussion and follow-up questions to maintain the discussion. Numerous examples of discussion questions which were gathered from experienced online instructors are presented with the goal of preparing students and teachers to participate effectively in online discussions. (March 2001)

2) From Iris Vardi, Curtin University:

3) Eight Ways to Get Students More Engaged in On-line Conferences
W. R. (Bill) Klemm, Texas A&M University.
Examines psychological, social and technical causes of lack of participation, and offers solutions such as requiring participation, structuring activities, requiring deliverables, and peer grading. (1998)

4) Moving out of the Middle: Incorporating Successful Moderating Strategies in Asynchronous Discussions
Sarah Haavind of the Concord Consortium.
MOOM (Moving out of the Middle) teaches discussion facilitation techniques which lead to a higher quality of contributions from participants. (1999)

5) Facilitating Online Learning: Charting the Conversation
Wendy Burton, University College of the Fraser Valley.
This study investigated the facilitative moves employed by the instructor and students in a second-year, university-transfer, course in research and report writing conducted on a computer conferencing system in 1996. The author shares various facilitative strategies that developed and sustained the conversation online. (1998)

6) Body Language On-Line (If I Can't See You, How Do I Know You're Raising Your Hand?)
Sally W. Stiles, Simon Fraser University.
The author addresses the questions (1) Is it easier to "see" students' concerns and problems when you know them? (2) What cultural/sexual differences enhance or hamper the exchange of ideas between teacher and student or between students? and (3) What measures can a teacher take to assure appropriate and successful dialogue with the instructor and among participants in an on-line workshop? (1998)

7) Gender Issues and the On-line Classroom
Patrick Sullivan, Manchester Community-Technical College.
This essay looks at ways in which a carefully designed and moderated asynchronous Internet class discussion environment may "solve" many of the problems related to gender in traditional classrooms that Hall and Sandler (and many others, subsequently) discuss. (1998)

8) Online Chat Session! Chaos or...?
Peter Hillery, Northern Sydney Institute of Technical and Further Education (TAFE).
Description of how they organized, planned and conducted some online chat sessions at a recent online conference, and some of the feedback they received. Each session had, at least, a "chairman" and "speaker" and attendees were asked to follow certain "rules". (1999)

9) Using a Listserv to Facilitate Discussion in a Graduate Course on Race, Class, Gender and Media
Michael Leslie, Ph.D., University of Florida.
The authors shares his successes using a Listserv (a robot mailer that broadcasts any message sent to the list to all people who are "subscribed" to the list). (1998)

10) Netiquette
Leone Wheeler, RMIT University.
Quick guide to etiquette on the Internet. Includes an emoticon list, abbreviations, and links to similar sites. (1997)

11) The Core Rules of Netiquette
Virginia Shea.
Excerpted from her book Netiquette. Complete book available here. (1999)