Do some use the rubric as a guideline, but allow the learning process to move to other levels to encourage collaboration and community among students to increase quality postings? I like to do this for it helps the students guide their learning and lead collaboration efforts that are more rewarding for the students and the participants. I do also make sure it does not get out of hand and stay on track to meet objectives and outcomes. Monique

Since Generation X are loners and work well alone, they manage themselves and the online environment for learning. Having them in roles of leadership in the classroom may be a good way to get them more engaged and add more value to the learning experience. Is this being intrusive in the student learning process? Monique

How can you stop students from using the text language in the chat box of a synchronous class session? I know there are standards that you can set for S2S interaction, but how do you break them of a habit that is so common place? Monique

Since our new wave of technology, education has become very informal in methods of communication and learning. Sometimes I find the technology refreshing and other times I find that it interferes with learning and relating in the classroom. Online is a more common place dynamic that is reshaping the way we deliver education and receive education. The mindset of the professor behind the podium has become some what obsolete. I miss those days from time to time, but still do enjoy the convenience that technology delivers to education. Can you really have it both ways completely?

It looks like the timeframe for generation Y ends around 1998, so what is the next generation? It is generation Z? How are they different or similar to previous generations?

Do you think it's a good idea to have a class facebook page? That way, all students in the class can have one place to communicate at.

Sometimes I found it difficult to get all students engaged in group projects. When I monitor there discussion history and try interventions I have not been super successful. Any suggestions. I try direct communication and email, but have mixed responses.

I like to use the live chats as a way to establish verbal communication standards as well as remind and reinforce my presence to help them in anyway possible.

When Emailing I try to be consistent with the language I use. I want to model the behavior I want in the emails. this includes subject line, content, and superlatives.

To have a just one student to respond to your out reach is great, but to reach out to multiple is outstanding. I think this take patience and a strong willed person to help these students learn to reach out in a time of need or to go above and beyond to communicate with fellow student's and Instructor's to keep the communication line open.

I like the idea of referring to students by name. The instructor is showing that he or she is paying attention to what the student has to say. The student are more likely to participate in future discussion posts because they have a sense of recognition.

Communication in the virtual class is as important as communication for a student who attends class in a bricks and mortar setting. The environment should be personalized to grab the student's attention. Students should be encouraged to introduce themselves in the class forum. If students are aware of all the expectations required for the course, they too, will follow the instructor's lead.

I like using VoiceThread. This tool helps students and instructors to leave comments in text or voice. This enhances visual learning through an image-based interactive discussion.

I am interested in incorporating social media within my classroom so that I can bring learning to where my students are 90% of the day. The challenge is that in order to do so, it would have to be a part of my schools predefined curriculum and there always seems to be "compliance" hoops to jump through. What are some tips on getting support from my school to allow me to introduce social media into my classroom?

Making accessibility for learners with disabilities in online course settings is key. I really appreciated this module for detailing this concept so nicely. Being cognizant of learners with disabilities potentially not being able to keep up with the timing in chats will be critical for me to be thinking about.

This module really made me aware of the need to prepare for students who may have disabilities. Recognizing the most optimal presentation of transcripts and audio recordings suitable for learners with disabilities is really important. A study noted the use of assistive technology in online course forums as helpful (Heiman & Shemesh, 2012). Reference Heiman T1, Shemesh DO. (2012). Students with LD in higher education: use and contribution of assistive technology and website courses and their correlation to students' hope and well-being. J Learn Disabil. 45(4):308-18. doi: 10.1177/0022219410392047. Epub 2011 Jan 20.

I am relatively new to the microblogging tool for my students but what a great idea. I am planning to try this and other social networking tools for my students soon. Wang, Wang, and Shi (2013) noted that using microblogs in pharmocotherapy courses was well accepted. Reference Wang T(1), Wang F, Shi L. (2013). The use of microblog-based case studies in a pharmacotherapy introduction class in China. BMC Med Educ. 2013 Sep 8;13:120. doi: 10.1186/1472-6920-13-120.

I'm still new at the encouraging of social networking tools to my students. However, this module is a motivation for me to do more work on appropriately integrating social networking. Sharoff (2013) noted the value of using social networking tools for nursing students Reference Sharoff L. (2011). Integrating YouTube into the nursing curriculum. Online J Issues Nurs. 16(3):6. doi: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol16No03PPT03.

As a medical librarian, I am always super-sensitive about the importance of using proper citations for work. I always emphasize the utmost importance of proper citing of work and the avoidance of plagiarism. Academic integrity in online learning environments, like physical environments, is critical and should be emphasized (Azulay, Chertok, & Barnes, 2013). Reference Azulay Chertok IR, Barnes ER, Gilleland D. (2013). Academic integrity in the online learning environment for health sciences students. Nurse Educ Today. pii: S0260-6917(13)00202-5. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2013.06.002. [Epub ahead of print] .

I've had experience with both inherently intrinsically motivated students and extrinsically motivated students. I try to encourage the reward one feels from the learning itself but I do understand that grades may take over for some students. Nonetheless, I still try to encourage the benefits from the learning process. Collaboration within student groups has been shown to have resulted in intrinsic motivation (Rhee, Parent, & Basu, 2013). Reference Rhee J(1), Parent D, Basu A. (2013). The influence of personality and ability on undergraduate teamwork and team performance. Springerplus. 2(1):16. Epub 2013 Jan 19.