- Featured Example: PA 502 - Organizational Behavior
- Course Developer: Dr. Aarn Cao
- Risepoint ID: Anabel Larson
In accelerated online learning, building intentional connections between students is vital for both engagement and understanding. Discussions that go beyond text-based posts allow students to share perspectives in ways that mirror real-world professional interactions. By designing opportunities for students to articulate their thinking and respond to peers in meaningful ways, faculty can help learners bridge the gap between theory and practice while fostering a sense of community.
Design Challenge
During initial design conversations, Dr. Cao identified that students often struggled with applying Bolman & Deal’s Four Frames model. Students were confused about how the frames differed, uncertain which to use in complex scenarios, and tended to default to familiar options while neglecting others. The challenge was to create an activity that would encourage students to explore all four frames in a practical, applied way while also supporting peer-to-peer learning.
Course Vision
To address this, the course developer and Risepoint ID designed an Insight Exchange discussion. Instead of relying on written posts, students recorded short video reflections through Panopto. This design choice aligned with the course vision by emphasizing active, student-centered engagement. Using video allowed learners to share their ideas in their own voice and presence, which created a more authentic and human connection.
This strategy not only gave students practice in articulating their reasoning but also mirrored the type of professional communication they would encounter in the workplace. As a low-stakes assessment early in the course, students had the opportunity to build confidence while encouraging deeper exploration of complex concepts.
Executing the Design
In the live course, the Insight Exchange was implemented within a Canvas discussion board integrated with Panopto. Students receive clear, step-by-step instructions to guide their posts, and the structure left room for exploration of the Four Frames model. The design encourages students to listen carefully to their peers’ interpretations, compare perspectives, and intentionally connect with one another. This interaction extended beyond peer learning by also strengthening connections between students, their instructor, and the course content itself.
Key Design Elements
- Integrating Media: Canvas discussion board used as the primary activity hub. Panopto integration enabled students to post video reflections.
- Focus on Learning: Clear, tactical instructions provided to reduce uncertainty and support engagement.
- Connecting Student Learning: Emphasis on peer-to-peer responses to foster intentional connections.
- Practice Opportunity: Low-stakes format positioned as an early-course activity to build confidence.
Want to Try?
If you are building an online course for the first time, here are some practical ways to apply these design strategies:
Try this:
- Integrate media. Replace one early text-based discussion with a short video response activity to help students connect with each other in a more personal way.
- Give clear instructions. Provide clear instructions and scaffolding so students focus on engaging with the content rather than worrying about the technology.
- Use insight exchanges to practice applying concepts. Use video discussions as a low-stakes entry point to practice applying theoretical frameworks before introducing more complex assessments.
- Facilitate strong interactions. Encourage students to respond directly to peers’ posts, highlighting agreement, differences, or extensions of ideas, to deepen the conversation.
