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[dept_geek]

So.. we've all come across this in an online (task/skill/lab and not a read-and-discuss-and-exchange-ideas) class. Student posts a question that leads to more questions. Example: There is a problem with 10 steps, all of which build on the previous. Question in the discussion forum (or by email, it doesn't matter): "I don't understand what I am doing wrong in part 6." That's it. The entire question. So, we start: "Tell me what you have done so far. What happened in step 3?" S: "Well, X happened." T: "Great. How about step 4?" S: "You suck, Just tell me the damn answer." <complains to chair, deanlet, dean on how mean you are> 

Alternate discussion: "I don't understand what I am doing wrong in part 6." That's it. The entire question. So, we start: "Tell me what you have done so far. What happened in step 3?" S: "Well, X happened." T: "Ahh. I see. You are very close. Go back and re-look at step 3b, you went off track there"  S: "You suck, Just tell me the damn answer." <complains to chair, deanlet, dean on how mean you are>

You get the idea.

How do you, in your online (not face2face) dealings with a student, get them to:
a) describe the entire problem?
b) understand that questions and answers are part of the learning process?
c) have an entire discussion without "running away" part way through?
d) read the entire chapter and not just the one section that perhaps might apply?

Thanks!

[infopri]

These are the kinds of conversations I try to have in real time, whenever possible.  The course-management system we use has both a chat feature and an Instant Messenger-type feature.  Students are much less likely to disengage mid-conversation with the "You suck!" attitude when it's in real-time. 

Sometimes, I see the student logged on and initiate the real-time conversation: "Hi, dept_geek.  I got your email.  Do you have a few minutes now to talk about it?"  Otherwise, I send an email trying to set up an appointment for a real-time interaction: Hi, dept_geek.  I'd really like to help you figure this out, but the best way to do this is via a real-time chat.  Send me a few days/times that work for you."  (Or I'll suggest a few times myself.)

I've found that attempts to carry on this kind of conversation asynchronously, via email, are always frustrating, at best, and often unsuccessful to boot.

[gourmand601]

I have a couple of quick questions to ask before I answer. Are these discussions graded and are students provided with a rubric for the discussions?

[dept_geek]

Thanks, infopri!

@true: no, they are not graded. These are questions asked during the course of the class. I don't have graded discussions at all - the discussion boards in my "classroom" take the place of before, during, and after class chatter. I ask that the students use the discussion forum rather than email so all may benefit.  And the next question: these are CC students and they have been asked to give all information before the question, no matter how small or seemingly irrelevant the point may be.