Last night we held our third Blackboard IM session; this one was for Pod #4.
Granted...sometimes we talk about other things not class related. Last night we were discussing board games, then card games. How did those relate to Abraham Lincoln or the plights of African American women during the times of the Civil War? They didn't. But it was fun to share some ideas and get to know each other much as might if we were sitting in a classroom with each other.
Most of the time we talk about an author, or a short story, or a poem, or an idea presented, or a particular discussion board forum. Last night we talked about famous speakers, stemming from that forum in this Pod. We drifted then to visiting Gettysburg, then trips to Washington D.C., and even discussed Historic Williamsburg and Jamestown. Still good discussion.
Blogs were a topic of discussion last night too. These are always fun and sometimes a post will trigger some good healthy discussion about a topic relating to the literature read...or sometimes not.
More people need to join us! It is an hour of time. It is worth 25 points to converse with the others in the group. It is fun. It is entertaining. And last night, the time flew by! We talked beyond our official end time, and we probably could have chatted longer if I hadn't stopped the discussion.
The next Blackboard IM session will be on Thursday October 23 from 8:30 -9:30 Eastern time. Please consider joining us. We would love to add more people to our group ! Mark your calendar today so you don't forget.
Topics? Emerson. Thoreau. Longfellow. Whittier. Blogs. Transcendentalism.
Unfortunately, I was not able to make this particular IM session that you are talking about, but I have participate in the IM sessions before, and you are right, they are fun! One of the aspects that I miss the most about on campus courses is the personal connections that you are able to make by talking with others from class. I have never used the Black Board IM until this class, but I love it! I feel so much more like I am in a live class, this is a way to affirm that the other students in this class are real, and I can interact with them, all while keeping the convenience of my online classes, and never leaving my house! Yeah!! I don't have to find a sitter for the kiddos!!! Thank you for adding this to our class, and I hope that there are lots of others who join us on the 23rd; I am planning to be there! :-)
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