Connecting Stories and Pedagogy Increases Participant Engagement in Discussions

Student discussions over video in massive classes allow students to explore course content, share personal experiences and get feedback on their ideas. However, such discussions frequently turn into casual conversations without focusing on the curriculum and the learning objectives. This short paper explores whether students can achieve multiple learning objectives by solving challenges collaboratively during discussions. We introduce `think-pair-share' technique for video discussions. Our pilot results, drawn from a Coursera class, suggest that participants prefer to exchange information with their peers using personal stories and connecting stories with curriculum increases participant engagement.