For our first SPARK Community of Practice lunch of the semester Ellen Pader, Associate Professor in Landscape Architecture and regional planning, and Michael Young, graduate instructor in the English department, joined us to present on their use of the communication tools in SPARK.
Professor Pader discussed how her use of the discussion tools has not only brought her closer to her students but has made the class more dynamic. “The students are responsive in ways they had not been before.” She found that students use discussions to get to know each other better and have become more invested in both in-class and online discussions. Using the Journal tool in SPARK, Pader is able to have private discussions with each student and invites comments, concerns, and criticisms on any topic.
Michael Young felt that SPARK works so well because it is enables excitement. His students come together in class to share their interest in writing and SPARK helps to sustain the excitement past the 50 minute class. Students are able to take advantage of “not looking at anyone” when sharing their writing online to “interact on a more useful level”. They love the ability to read discussions at their leisure and the less formal atmosphere that Michael has created engenders a sense of community.
Many thanks to our presenters from this session! Be sure to check out our next SPARK Community of Practice lunch on November 19th that focuses on strategies for using SPARK in large classes. Register Online