CLASS FORUM / DISCUSSION BOARD
 via BLOG or Facebook

Objectives:

1.  To provide learners with the opportunity to engage in
    authentic "conversations" with instructor and other learners
    via class forum/discussion board.
2. To encourage learners to express themselves in writing and
    to give comments and feedback on what they read or view
    (video clips posted by instructor.)


To set up:
BLOG:
1.  Choose a BLOG host:  If you are not sure which one to
     choose, go to:
         
  Blog software comparison chart
           
Wordpress versus Blogger
                 VTN 101 - Fall 2009

2.   Sign up for an account  for your class using your email  
    address and choose an user name which is easy for you and
    the learners to remember.
    For example:  
vtn101falll10, 201fall2010

                
Wordress:  http://wordpress.com/
            Blogger:     https://www.blogger.com/start
     
 
    Decide if you want this blog to be:
        -closed - only users approved by owner can read
        -semi-closed - only users approved by the owner can read
         and/or post
        -semi-open - anyone can read, but only approved users
         can post
        -open - anyone can read or post
     It is recommended that you choose either semi-closed or
     semi-open setting  in which only the learners of that
     particular class can post.


3.  If necessary, go over some online tutorials:
        Video tutorial for Wordpress
        Wordress tutorials organized by topics
        Video tutorial for Blogger
        Complete list of Blogger tutorials

     Set up the theme/appearance of the blog and start with  
     the first page.  

.Then, follow steps 4-10  below:

FACEBOOK:
1.   
Facebook Group should be used for class forum/project
      instead of Facebook Page because it gets far more control
      over who can participate.
 
2.   For quick tutorials to create Facebook Group and helpful
      teacher's guides go to:
       
Teacher's Guide to Using Facebook
       How to Create a Facebook Group

       Video clip: How to Create a Class Group on Facebook
       

       It is strongly recommended that you create a separate
       Facebook profile for professional use only
.  So, you should
       create an alternate email account first and use that email
       address to sign up for a "professional" Facebook
       account, then create different Facebook Groups for your
       classes from that account. You can use the subject of your
       course as the first name and last name. For example:
       Elementary Korean or Intermediate Vietnamese
 
       The learners may not want to share their personal life on
       Facebook with the class either and may also opt to create a
       separate/second account in Facbook that is solely used for
       your class. Therefore, you may want to check with them
       first on which email address they would like to receive the
       invitation to join Facebook Group.

       
3.    It is recommended that you set the Facebook Group for
       your class as closed (where users/learners must get
       administrator or your approval to join) or secret (invite only)
       to protect the learners' privacy.

       Just as the main features of other course managements
       such as Blackboar and Web CT, inside the Facebook
       Group, you can post Discussion Board Topic, pictures,
       videos, links, and other "wall" items.

  



4.   Decide  how often you will post questions or topics on this
      class forum for the learners to read and leave their
      comments to include in the brief introduction of this project.

5.   Send the URL of your class blog 
or invitation to join
      Facebook Group
to all learners along with brief introduction
      of this reading/viewing and writing project.

6.   Your weekly or bi-monthly posts can be about what
      happens that week and/or about the topic/theme covered
      that week so the learners can apply what they learn in
      their writing.

TIPS:
1.   For the instruction given to learners, be clear on:
      a.   how much you want them to write (number of words)
            their comment
      b.   requirement to read others classmates' comments and if
            you want them to leave comments/questions after
            reading

2.   Spend time to monitor learners' comments on each posting
      to encourage learners to write more and/or more often.  If
      you don't read and leave comments, learners might not as
      be motivated to write more and often.

3.   Since most learners are visual learners, upload a couple
      pictures or video clips downloaded/linked from You Tube
      that are related to the topics along with your post.
 
4.   For this type of assignment, the focus should not be on
      accuracy (correction) but on fluency (communication) and
      on ways to increase learners' exposure to authentic
      language and use of of target language.  Therefore,
you
      may want to treat this assignment as a journal that is
      not gradded, except as a completion grade or content
      grade.  

      If you are concerned about accuracy, modeling correct
      usage in your respond/comment for cover correction is
      effective. You can also send corrections via email message
      to individual learners or write feedback on a piece of paper
      for a particular learner or choose to go over some common
      mistakes in class.




Example # 1
The topic/theme chosen may be the same for all three levels, but the complexity of the questions/postings and the tasks which the learners are required to complete are varied depending on the proficiency levels of the learners.

for beginning level -  Hobbies/Pastimes
In my opinion, one of the best movies the last three weeks is Inception.  I watched it last weekend but want to watch it one more time to better understand the movie.  How often do you go see a movie?  Which movie do you think is the best movie of this week? Why?

for intermediate level - Hobbies and entertainment

At this level, learners should be able to write about the types of movies they'd to watch and explain the reasons they like certain films and/or actors. They can also write about the film plot.

for advanced level - Hobbies and entertainment
Advanced learners can write a one or two-page review (including the film plot, actors & actresses) of a movie they like most or dislike most.

Example #2:
About physical appearance:
VTN 101 - Fall 2009
Intermediate level:                University of Michigan - VN class