Discussion Boards
What?!?
We have to do a
Discussion Board!
For a Grade!!
The Purpose of Discussion Boards
Discussion boards for online classes give students the opportunity to talk about course topics with each other and with the professor, as they would if they were in a traditional classroom. This helps students absorb the class material and share ideas.
Okay. So how do I do it?
Participating in discussion boards is not like texting your friends and family.
Below are some guidelines to help you Get the Grade.
General Tips
Get to know each other
“Your first post should be a way of introducing yourself to your learning community,” said David L. Stoloff, Professor in the Education Department at Eastern Connecticut State University. “Also see if you can connect your life experiences to the course content and still respond to the topic raised in the discussion forum.”
NOTE: If the topic of the post is personal (e.g., tell about your childhood) and you are not comfortable sharing, that is okay. Focus on a few positive things and people you remember. If you need help with this, contact Support Services, access@pierpont.edu, 304-534-7878.
Don't overshare
While it is important to get to know your classmates, sharing or revealing too much information about yourself can result in negative consequences such as making others feel uncomfortable, them making jokes about you, or avoiding you.
Don't overshare
While it is important to get to know your classmates, sharing or revealing too much information about yourself can result in negative consequences such as making others feel uncomfortable, them making jokes about you, or avoiding you.
Always be polite
Don't say anything that you would not want your mother, grandmother, or your pastor to read.
Use simple formatting
When it comes to formatting, which is the appearance of your post, keep it as simple as possible by avoiding fonts that are difficult to read (e.g., font, font).
Post with clarity
“Express yourself as clearly as possible. That means use correct grammar to the best of your ability, avoid acronyms and slang, and proofread your writing, possibly referring to dictionaries and grammar sources,” said Mitchell Langbert, Associate Professor at Brooklyn College.
Avoid jokes
When posting on the Internet, it can be difficult to know when someone is joking because readers can’t see the person’s nonverbal communication. In order to avoid confusion and risk offending others in the class including the instructor, it’s best to avoid jokes and sarcasm when posting.
Be serious about the assignment
“Students should take it seriously,” said Anne Adcock, Associate Professor and the Bachelor Program Director at the Carver School of Social Work at Campbellsville University. “Answer the writing prompt completely. Give some thought to what you are going to type—apply the course readings to your response. This demonstrates that you are digesting the reading and thinking about it in a way that will allow you to apply the knowledge in practice.”
Writing a Post
Use keywords in your title
Online discussions can results in many messages. To help the other students quickly understand what your post is about, be sure that your title clearly states what you topic is.
"My thoughts about today's reading" isn't as clear as "My opinion of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as an inexpensive and nutritious sandwich."
Develop a thesis, argument, or question
After you’ve finished the required reading or task, write down some thoughts about it. Then think of a thesis and how to support it. A thesis is the main idea. It often reflects an opinion or judgment that you, as the writer of the post, have made about a reading or personal experience.
Example - After reading about nutritious foods, you might post a thesis stating:
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the best sandwiches because they are nutritious, easy to make, and inexpensive.
You might continue to support your statement by discussing the information on the food labels on the peanut butter and jelly jars and bread wrappers, which lists the amount of calories, carbs, fat, fiber, protein, and vitamins per serving of the food. Share how long it took you to make it and how much you paid for the ingredients. You also might compare this with the nutrition of similar foods. Then read the other postings and see how they support or contradict your idea, and include writing about this.
Another strategy is not to create your own thesis, but to look for postings that lack evidence. Then research for evidence supporting or not supporting the posting. You can also turn your thoughts into questions and write about the questions for the group to answer. Be sure to support what you say with references to course materials or outside sources, such as readings.
Encourage discussion
If you’re the first to post, try to encourage discussions with the other students. Get others thinking (and writing) by making statements or including open-ended questions in your message. Those who post first are most often responded to and cited by others. Remember to check back and see if and how others have responded to your ideas.
Open-ended questions start with “Why?” “How?” and “What?” They encourage a full answer, rather than the simple “yes” or “no” response that is usually given to a closed-ended question.
Remember that opinions aren’t arguments. If someone disagrees with you, that's okay.
Make postings short, clear, and purposeful
In general, write one to two meaningful paragraphs because long messages are difficult to read online. Another rule of thumb is to make only one main point in each posting, supported by evidence and/or an example. Be concise (Vonderwell, 2003).
You can change your mind
It can be intimidating to take a stand on an issue at times, especially when you put it in writing. We tend to think that when things are written down, they can never change. You are allowed to change your mind. Simply indicate that with the new information raised in the discussion, you have changed your mind. Learning is about change.
Other practical considerations for discussion board postings
It can be frustrating to read through a busy discussion forum with lots of posts and replies. Make sure to create new threads if new topics evolve in the discussion. Subscribing to receive email alerts of new postings can help participants keep up with a conversation without checking back into the discussion forum repeatedly. You can configure the tool to receive alerts whenever a new post appears or receive a daily summary of the posts.
Responding to Other Posts
Make your content clear
An informative title will help, but also consider including in your reply a brief quotation from the message that you’re responding to. If the original message is lengthy, only include the part that is relevant to your response. If the original comment has many paragraphs, you could place your comments between the paragraphs to give readers the context for your ideas.
Your title: Nutritional Value of Jelly
Your reply: Jim J. responded to my comments on Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches are Nutritious with, "Jelly is not nutritious because it primarily contains sugar."
Followed by your comments and information.
Add value to the conversation
Just responding by saying “I agree” does not add anything to the discussion. Ask yourself why you agree. Share your thoughts so others can respond to them.
Ask open-ended questions
Consider using the following questions when trying to continue a discussion:
What reasons do you have for saying that?
Why do you agree (or disagree) on that point?
How are you defining the term that you just used?
What do you mean by that expression?
Could you clarify that remark?
What follows from what you just said?
It is okay to politely disagree with your classmates
To share different perspectives or help others clarify their thinking, you may choose to contradict what a classmate says. Always disagree respectfully (no name-calling or obscenities) and support your point with evidence. Don't feel bad about offering a different interpretation. Your contribution should help to make the discussion more productive for everyone.
Work to create group connection
Discussions are about group learning. When the students function well as a group, everyone will be more open to the benefits that this type of learning can provide. Give positive feedback to one another, use light humor, avoid comments that could be taken as insulting, use first names, respond promptly to each other, and offer assistance. Remember the lack of nonverbal and vocal cues in the online environment. It can help to label your thoughts (e.g., “I’m confused about this” or “I feel strongly about this”) because others probably will not pick up on how you feel otherwise.
Avoid quickly posting emotional responses
If you feel very emotional about a message, wait before responding. It’s very easy to write something in the heat of the moment and then wish you could retract it. If you send it to the discussion, the damage is done. Even waiting overnight can give you enough distance to respond in a calmer and more professional manner.
Developing a Positive Perspective
Engaging in online chats
If your class meets online, using the chat can provide an opportunity to ask questions or make comments during an online lecture. Try to make your comments concise and clear. Remember to be respectful and professional. Don't write anything that you wouldn't say in class. Also, avoid clogging up the chat with links to extraneous resources. Stay focused and aim to add value to the class experience.
Be open to new ideas
Discussion is about hearing what others have to say and working to shape and re-shape your own thoughts and perspectives.
Different perspectives can further everyone’s understanding of the issue or concept being discussed—they represent opportunities for learning. You might continue to disagree, but you will have learned why others feel differently. That increases your knowledge and helps provides insight.
Enjoy yourself
The online environment comes with many benefits, including learning from your peers in addition to your instructor. Use the time productively to increase your life skills and refine your ideas about the course content.