Exploring Discussion Forums

...

Discussion forums provide an avenue for asynchronous (in other words, not at the same time) communication among all class members or for groups. Discussions are typically threaded, meaning they are grouped according to the topic (e.g., an original post) in more or less chronological order.

...

Many instructors use discussion forums as the mainstay of class interaction and reflection. Smith (2002) notes that participation is usually greater in an online discussion than in a face-to-face course because introverted students get the time they need to think before responding. Extroverts, on the other hand, can learn to take time to respond with more higher-level thoughts. Generally, a discussion forum can be an effective way to build critical thinking skills.

...

• Serve to reduce a feeling of isolation among students that can lead to dropping out.

• Provide a place to meet the needs of adult learners, who prefer the application of information to their real-world experiences.

• Afford the opportunity to build a sense of community among the learners. (We will address this in more detail in another module.)

• Help differentiate an online course from a correspondence course. Online discussions enhance student-to-student and faculty-to-student communication.

...

The amount of time required for students to write a solid original post, read the posts of peers, and write appropriate replies must also be a consideration. The amount of time needed for a single forum will play a role in helping you determine how many forums to include in your course overall. We also suggest that you call for an original post on a certain day of the week and replies reply on a different day. Such deadlines can help keep student procrastination from inhibiting discussion.

...

An effective way to begin designing discussion forums, in general, is to start by preparing a rubric. Then, to begin designing individual questions, consider using Socratic questioning techniques. Richard Paul (cited in Online Classroom, 2007) suggests writing question prompts that:

...

Medicine used to be practiced based upon on the prevailing thoughts at the time, and now there is a huge emphasis on evidence-based medicine.

...

Starting with Lesson 03, we will have a Case Study in each unit for you to discuss with a new set of group members. The due dates on this assignment span two weeks. You will read the case study and create an initial post on Sunday of week 1. In week 2, you will respond to the posts of other members of your group (due Wednesday). The purpose of this discussion board assignment is to give you an opportunity to further solidify concepts from the material while interacting with your fellow students. If you have questions about how to do the the Case Study, please ask your group members first, then ask a TA if you need further clarification.

...

Your TA will grade your Case Study postings. You will receive a grade of up to 15 points based on your answers to this assignment. You will be graded on the timeliness of your posts, as well as the answer provided and your response posts. Please provide substantive responses to all questions, including your peers' responses - saying "That was a great answer" will earn 0 points for the response.

...

Your responses should be substantive; that is, they should add to the conversation, not just say "I agree" or "good Good post." Add your own stories and experiences, ask questions about specific parts of a post, or bring a different perspective on the issue.