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Discussion board

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Jim Hicks
Jim Hicks

This document discusses effective strategies for facilitating online discussion boards. It notes that discussion boards are central to most online courses as they allow for ideas and information to be shared, discussed, and built upon. The instructor serves as a facilitator by monitoring responses to ensure a safe space and keeping discussions on track. Effective facilitation includes establishing rules, encouraging introductions, posing reflective questions, maintaining a presence without over involvement, and promoting further thinking by asking additional engaging questions.

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Webinar Effective Discussion Boards Jim Hicks-Instructional Designer Department of Information Technology Union Institute & University
Discussion Board Facilitation -At the center of almost every online course is the discussion forum. -This is where ideas, information, and new material are shared, discussed, analyzed, and built upon. -The discussion forum mimics the classroom in a face-to-face environment. The forums are important to help build a sense of community among the learners who are often geographically isolated from each other.
-The instructor is a facilitator in the discussion. -They serve to monitor the responses and ensure that the discussion is a safe place for all students to share. -Facilitators should keep the discussion on track and help those that tend to stray, focus on the material being discussed. -Facilitators should help to advance the discussion if it happens to become stuck. -But facilitators should not be so heavily involved that they impede the process or the flow of discussion.
Discussion Board Strategies -Post the rules and scoring rubrics to communicate behavioral expectations at the start of class. These should be supported by netiquette and Acceptable Use Policies. -Encourage students to introduce themselves and meet one another to form a learning community where they will feel safe to share and discuss. -Develop discussion questions that allow the student to critically reflect on the material and synthesize it with their own experiences. -Encourage students to participate early and often.
-Create a presence in the forum but not interfere with the flow of the discussion. Occasional modeling of responses is helpful. -Intervene when the discussion is veering off in the wrong direction and help move the discussion back on track. -Ensure that the discussion forum is a safe learning environment. -Promote further thinking and reflection by posing more thoughtful and engaging questions within any given discussion.

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Discussion board

  • 1. Webinar Effective Discussion Boards Jim Hicks-Instructional Designer Department of Information Technology Union Institute & University
  • 2. Discussion Board Facilitation -At the center of almost every online course is the discussion forum. -This is where ideas, information, and new material are shared, discussed, analyzed, and built upon. -The discussion forum mimics the classroom in a face-to-face environment. The forums are important to help build a sense of community among the learners who are often geographically isolated from each other.
  • 3. -The instructor is a facilitator in the discussion. -They serve to monitor the responses and ensure that the discussion is a safe place for all students to share. -Facilitators should keep the discussion on track and help those that tend to stray, focus on the material being discussed. -Facilitators should help to advance the discussion if it happens to become stuck. -But facilitators should not be so heavily involved that they impede the process or the flow of discussion.
  • 4. Discussion Board Strategies -Post the rules and scoring rubrics to communicate behavioral expectations at the start of class. These should be supported by netiquette and Acceptable Use Policies. -Encourage students to introduce themselves and meet one another to form a learning community where they will feel safe to share and discuss. -Develop discussion questions that allow the student to critically reflect on the material and synthesize it with their own experiences. -Encourage students to participate early and often.
  • 5. -Create a presence in the forum but not interfere with the flow of the discussion. Occasional modeling of responses is helpful. -Intervene when the discussion is veering off in the wrong direction and help move the discussion back on track. -Ensure that the discussion forum is a safe learning environment. -Promote further thinking and reflection by posing more thoughtful and engaging questions within any given discussion.