Making spider web discussions work in asynchronous online classes

In a previous blog post, we talked about spider web discussions and how teachers can make the most out of this method in synchronous online classes. I’ve also mentioned that asynchronous spider web discussions deserve their own post, so that’s what we’re going to cover today!

As a short recap, spider web discussions are a great tool for student engagement and participation. This method encourages students to become learning leaders and promotes critical thinking, social skills, and even equity in the classroom.

In a brick-and-mortar school setting, students usually sit around an oval table and engage in insightful discussions. The teacher facilitates these discussions without “saving” the conversation from awkward silences. Therefore, the teacher’s job is to offer a prompt and map out the discussion as it’s happening. Hence, you’ll end up with a spider web map as students take turns speaking.