Forum Getting Started: Chat and scribe


 
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1: Chat and scribe
11/22/05 12:52 AM
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Who has been using this tool lately?

This double tool is like the Q&A tool I think: it is one of the best in the LAMS repertoire - conceptually that is. The Q&A is fail safe, but chat and scribe is a little tricky. My recommendation if you are going to use it is to make sure you have tested it out first and know the ins and outs of managing it well.

For example:

    Check that all the grouping is set as you want it - there are 3 places to set grouping in this tool.

    Perhaps show students screenshots of what they are to expect once they get in there.

    Make sure the scribe knows what to do and expect. This is a really important role. Coach them on how to update the report. After they first open the tool, explain that they need to hit the 'Next' button to see where they add to the group report.

    Explain that everyone should keep the two windows open in the learner view - one for chat and the other for the report. Remind them to click 'Resume' if they close off either the chat screen or the group report screen.

Even though this is an 'advanced' tool in terms of management we have had some great sessions where we've used it. Lots of fun! Chatting online and across the classroom.

I'd say leave plenty of time for using the chat and scribe - because there's a fair bit of multitasking going on - chatting, probably consulting resources, chatting some more, checking and responding to the report as it is updated.

Anyone else had some fun with this tool?

Posted by Robyn Philip

2: Re: Chat and scribe
In response to 1 11/24/05 07:43 AM
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I don't know about fun! ;-)

I used it last year, second session in. This was probably too much, too soon. With the benefit of hindsight I didn't have, I concur absolutely with the need to brief students in advance. Also, I would suggest keeping the session/sequence simple. The class I was teaching was large-ish (30-40) and new to me (and themselves). I gave a (sketchy?) overview of the role of the scribe and then just let things take their natural course. I found a spectrum of scribe personalities ranging from click-happy people who just wanted to get to the next activity to those who were reticent to the point of invisibility. I wasn't particularly worried about things progressing "lock-step" but not being able to locate scribes easily to sort out their issues added a layer of complexity I didn't need.

I would use it again but, as you imply, only with better planning and preparation.

Posted by Peter Miller

3: Re: Re: Chat and scribe
In response to 2 11/27/05 01:12 AM
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Peter, I laughed when I saw the half smile you put here.I helped with a chat and scribe sequence a couple of weeks ago. It was 40 students across two labs,using groups of 5.Of course some groups were together but some were spread between the two rooms. Because of the 'click-happy' behaviour we did lose one scribe (he couldn't get back into his group). But I have to say that despite the mayhem, I would use it again.The students were closely discussing their work (the activity was used to build and reflect upon lecture content) and this was in the form of challenging each other in the online chat as well as orally across the room. In fact I think the clunky behaviour of the tool probably enhanced the activity.I would normally achieve a similar result by dividing students into groups and nominating a person to report back (f2f) but this seemed to provoke a lot of discussion between groups as well as within them. It was good exercise running between computers though, so not for the faint-hearted!

Posted by Angela Voerman

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