Instructor provides a small group or large group activity at the beginning of a course for students to get to know one another. Instructor has at least one activity that requires students to work in pairs or small groups on tasks or projects. In addition to the above, students are required to make use of chatrooms for planned discussions and exchanges of information. Students occasionally interact voluntarily as well when required with instructor and felow students. Many course activities include requirements for students to work together in pairs or in small groups to produce a paper or report summarizing information, and must share results with the whole class.
Students frequently interact voluntarily as well as when required with instructor and students.
Instructor provides several planned or spontaneous opportunities for sharing ideas, opinions, and beliefs, in pairs or in small groups. Students usually or always initiate communications with the instructor, fellow students, and outside experts. Thus, interaction can support both social and instructional aims. One purpose is to encourage reflection and discussion on course topics and concepts. Much of the literature in this area focuses on instructional designs to increase this kind of participation and feedback.