Chapter 7: Let’s Talk Science: Using Questioning to Foster Discussion in the Online Elementary Classroom

Elementary science teachers need to be adept at promoting meaningful discussions to engage students in understanding scientific phenomena. Mastering the skill of facilitating discussion among diverse learners is even more critically important in the online format due to the differences in the nature and timing of interactions. Learning technologies provide multiple affordances for supporting online discussions and using questioning to guide students in scientific argumentation and modeling. The four scenarios presented in this chapter illustrate how learning technologies can support productive online discussions about various content topics in elementary science. Strategies for engaging English learners in online discussions are highlighted.