Why Use Learning Technology? | Course Design | Building Interactivity | Facilitating Online Discussions | Assessment and Evaluation

Educational Technology Resources

Facilitating Online Discussions

The discussion group or bulletin board as it is sometimes called, refers to a form of asynchronous communication. This means that postings are made at different times, but everyone can view the postings at all times.
The use of the discussion forum should be related to course learning outcomes.
Its purpose, guidelines for participation and assessment should be clarified at the outset of the course.

There is research evidence that suggests retention and success in online courses is related to the connections established between students and their facilitators, and amongst other students. This forum provides an opportunity for these connections to occur.

Learning Principles

• Learning through interaction with others through communication and collaboration supports a constructivist view of knowledge creation
• Building a community of learning attends to the social nature of learning
• Students actively learn from each other through cooperative interaction and knowledge sharing
• Participation encourages time on task.

Advantages

• Student postings show more reflective thinking than immediate
• classroom responses Provides opportunity for critical thinking and problem solving
• Everyone has a chance to participate.

Disadvantages

• Time consuming to monitor especially with large groups
• Navigation may be a problem

Tips for Successful Discussion Groups Online

• Be clear about the instructor role as facilitator
• Provide clear directions regarding expectations for participation; number, length and type of postings, deadline for postings,  guidelines for communication, etc.
• Always provide guidelines for appropriate behaviour in a discussion group (Netiquette)
• Distribute a discussion posting evaluation rubric if possible
• One teacher reviews Bloom’s taxonomy with the students and informs them that this is the basis on which the postings will be evaluated.
• Provide variety throughout the session that appeals to all learning styles eg students have opportunity to work alone, in dyads, small groups; students may rotate turns at moderating the discussion ie.
• Select a topic, construct questions, and lead the discussion for a few days or week.
• Design assignments that require both action and reflection, rather than reading only ie. Encourage students to explore, research, work alone and collaboratively
• Pay attention to participation levels and address them promptly
• Try to ask open ended, expansive questions that promote reflection and critical thinking.
• It may be helpful to model a reflective response for students, or at least provide an example of a thoughtful posting.