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This is a one week online seminar activity which explores and discusses ways in which teachers can shift learners' simple recall of facts and engage in higher order thinking during teaching and learning. Let us talk about this challenge that we face which is to "design and facilitate online learning experiences to create the cognitive presence consistent with deep and meaningful understanding" (Garrison & Cleveland-Innes, 2005, p. 145).

=Introduction: Defining the Problem= This seminar is an opportunity for you to consider the role teaching presence has in moving learners beyond the "surface exchange of information" (Garrison & Cleveland-Innes, 2005, p. 144) to a more qualitative discourse that encourages students to critically analyse ideas and reasoning. In particular, you will be guided to consider how the use of questioning can promote cognitive presence.


 * Seminar Outcomes**
 * 1) You will have an understanding of the challenges associated with moving learners from participation to cognitive engagement in the context of online learning discussions.
 * 2) You will have identified potential solutions and strategies to address this problem to apply in your own online teaching and learning practice.



This site is made up of five pages: >
 * Seminar Structure**
 * **Task 1** is an introduction space in which you will give a disclosure on your experience in facilitating learning discussions either online or face-to-face. You will then read Kanuka and Garrison (2004) and consider the implications of the article in your own practice.
 * **Task 2** requires you to read 2 readings (King, 1995; MacKnight, 2000) and formulate 2 //generic// questions to post to your fellow participants. For this activity you will be asked to participate as a 'critical friend' posing questions to facilitate your fellow learners to think deeply about how they will make changes to their teaching practice.
 * **Task 3's** purpose is to continue moving the level of discussion from low level sharing & interaction to more critical discourse. The purpose of the discussion is to put you in a position in which you are evaluating the thoughts of your fellow learners and asking questions to facilitate their deeper reflection and critical thinking.
 * In **Task 4**participants are asked to reflect on the 2 questions:
 * What is one new understanding or awareness you have about the art and practice of facilitating HOT online?
 * What is one practical idea/activity you can take from the seminar discussion/readings and apply to your own practice
 * Participants are also invited to contribute in the making of a list of tips for developing cognitive presence in online learning


 * Readings and resources** is a repository of material which will guide and inform this seminar. There are PDFs, Videos, illustrations and audio podcasts.

During this seminar you are encouraged to link your ideas to the theories of teaching/learning and concepts discussed by Edward DeBono (thinking hats), Blooms taxonomy to how e-learning and e-teaching can be furthered.