Here are five tips I've gleaned for improving online discussion boards.Divide and Conquer. ... Direct Traffic. ... Assign Actions. ... Incorporate Student Interactivity. ... Deter Students from Parachuting into Discussion.
The table, Four Primary Discussion Types for Online Courses, summarizes the purpose, design, monitoring, evaluation recommendations and faculty involvement for each type.Apr 10, 2019
5 Things You Shouldn't Do in an Online Discussion ForumNot read instructions: At the beginning of every discussion, the instructor lays down instructions that the students should follow. ... Not rechecking the content before posting: ... Using SMS Slang:Jul 10, 2018
Developing Discussion Board QuestionsFind inspiration. ... Include open ended questions. ... Look for ways to showcase critical thinking. ... Determine your objective. ... Decide how students will post. ... Post explicit engagement guidelines. ... Model discussion posts for students. ... Enforce proper netiquette.More items...•Jul 6, 2020
Ask a specific question, one that won't have an obvious right answer, likely in one of the following categories. Personal reflections: “What do you think about ___?” “How do you feel about ___?” Past experiences: “In the past, how have you responded when ___?” “Have you ever had an experience where ___?”
10 Tips for Effective Online DiscussionsConvey Clear Expectations. ... Adjust to the Discussion Board. ... Clarify Your Role. ... Provide Feedback and Coaching. ... Track Participation. ... Offer Groups and Discussion Board Alternatives. ... Create Questions You Care About. ... Select Discussion Leaders.More items...•Nov 21, 2018
The goal of a discussion is to get students to practice thinking about the course material. Your role becomes that of facilitator. You design and facilitate the discussion rather than convey information.
Express your disagreement in a polite, dignified and convincing manner. Do not use negative comments like ''this point is wrong" or "your argument doesn't make any sense." Instead use phrases like “You have a good point but there's another aspect to it… ”. Do not try to dominate other participants.
Guidelines for Forum PostsParticipate in online forums as you would in constructive, face-to-face discussions. ... Postings should continue a conversation and provide avenues for additional continuous dialogue. ... Do not post “I agree,” or similar, statements. ... Stay on the topic of the thread – do not stray.More items...
Discussion boards help to create a social presence in an online course along with a sense of community. Presence and community, in turn, can foster emotional connections. They also improve student learning and can create greater feelings of satisfaction with the course.
Suggested PracticesSlowly increase question complexity. ... Wait a few seconds for more hands to raise after asking questions, rather than calling on the first person with their hand up. ... Use structured discussions as a means of encouraging more students to participate and limiting students who monopolize conversations.More items...
75-150 wordsPosts should be within a range of 75-150 words. Make certain that all posts and responses address the question, problem, or situation as presented for discussion.