PED 624 Micro-Teaching

Increasing Social Presence Through Interactive Reading

Vikram Singh | University of Sherbrooke | 2025-02-25

note: Welcome everyone! Today, I’ll show how Perusall is more than just a reading tool—it's grounded in strong pedagogical frameworks that enhance learning in meaningful ways.

What issues do you face with reading engagement in your classes?

note: Many educators struggle with student engagement in assigned readings. Traditional methods don’t always provide insights into student thinking, and discussions can feel disconnected from the material.

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What issues do you face with reading engagement in your classes?

note: Many educators struggle with student engagement in assigned readings. Traditional methods don’t always provide insights into student thinking, and discussions can feel disconnected from the material.

A Solution

note: Perusall transforms reading into an interactive, social experience. Students discuss concepts directly within the text, allowing instructors to track engagement and identify gaps in understanding.

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A Solution

note: Perusall transforms reading into an interactive, social experience. Students discuss concepts directly within the text, allowing instructors to track engagement and identify gaps in understanding.

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A Solution

note: Perusall transforms reading into an interactive, social experience. Students discuss concepts directly within the text, allowing instructors to track engagement and identify gaps in understanding.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this activity, you will be able to:

1. Analyze how Perusall facilitates engagement with readings through collaborative annotation.
2. Annotate key elements of the course outline for discussion.
3. Evaluate the benefits of using Perusall to support student interaction and comprehension in a digital learning environment.

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Let's Try It

1. In your browser, type in bit.ly/jac-moodle-login. You can find the link in the chat or in the email that was sent out earlier.
2. User: first.last (ex. wilma.brown, all lowercase).
3. Pass: First name + 123! (ex. Dianne123!, first letter uppercase).
4. Once logged in, click on "My Courses" at the top, then "Pedagogy of Digital Learning".
5. Click "Perusall".

note:

1. Green bar that says "Work on Assignment".
2. Dialogue to take the tour > Click "end tour".

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The Task

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• Choose a learning objective from the course outline that stands out to you.
• Highlight and write an annotation explaining either:
  • A question you have about its meaning or application.
  • A connection to your teaching experience.
  • A suggestion on how it could be clarified or expanded.
• Reply to at least one other annotation to build discussion.

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note: This slide explains the task to participants. They will annotate a course learning objective in Perusall and engage with their peers' annotations to create a meaningful discussion.

Community of Inquiry

note: The Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework emphasizes deep and meaningful online learning. Perusall supports all three presences by making reading an interactive, social experience.

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note: The Québec Digital Competency Framework outlines 12 dimensions of digital literacy. Perusall aligns with multiple competencies by fostering collaboration, communication, and critical engagement with academic texts.

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note: The Québec Digital Competency Framework outlines 12 dimensions of digital literacy. Perusall aligns with multiple competencies by fostering collaboration, communication, and critical engagement with academic texts.

Key Takeaways

• Perusall enhances student engagement through interactive reading.

• Grounded in CoI and Digital Competency Frameworks.
• Supports student communication and collaboration.

note: To summarize, Perusall isn’t just a tool—it’s a research-backed strategy that fosters deeper engagement, collaborative learning, and better comprehension.

References

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1. Bored Back To School GIF by Muffin & Nuts [Digital image]. (2021). Retrieved from https://giphy.com/gifs/book-library-muffin-and-nuts-2xnO6tTIYYFE2j3IqQ
2. Garrison, R., Anderson, T., & Archer, W. (2000). Critical inquiry in a text-based environment: computer conferencing in higher education. Internet and Higher Education, 2(2–3), 87–105. https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/10.1016/S1096-7516(00)00016-6
3. Miller, K., Lukoff, B., King, G., & Mazur, E. (2018). Use of a Social Annotation Platform for Pre-Class Reading Assignments in a Flipped Introductory Physics Class. Frontiers in Education, 3, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2018.00008
4. Ministère de l’éducation et de l’enseignement supérieur. (2019). Digital competency framework. https://www.education.gouv.qc.ca
5. Perusall Logo [Digital image]. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.perusall.com/logos-artwork-brand-kit
6. Whats Up Hello Sticker by Holler Studios [Digital image]. (2023). Retrieved from https://giphy.com/stickers/HollerStudios-duck-holler-studios-qwak-7lTUgVeYpeNWbdFrVG

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Thank You

Questions? Comments?

note: I appreciate your time! I'm happy to take any questions about Perusall and its applications in digital pedagogy.