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online discussions

a well-designed online discussion engages students in an open-ended conversation that promotes deepened understanding of a topic. design is only part of the process, though. to be truly effective, an online discussion needs to be facilitated by you in a way that encourages conversation and promotes exploration.

online discussions differ from face to face discussions in several ways, as noted in the table below.

discussion

face to face
online
  • spontaneous and rapid
  • addresses multiple topics
  • semi-structured
  • detailed and slow paced
  • addresses few topics
  • heavily structured

in an online discussion, you design and facilitate the discussion while the students learn from each other and craft their own understanding of the topic. the students are responsible for learning the material and teach each other, while you facilitate the process from the side.

source

potential uses

  • prepare for in-class discussion (by posting questions for students to respond to prior to class)
  • identify key concepts in course readings
  • extend and apply issues introduced in course materials
  • continue in-class discussion outside of class time

engaging students in discussion online

additional sources:

online discussions: tips for teachers

vanderbilt’s cft teaching guide to blogging and online discussion

 

pros

  • because online discussion encourages reading and reflecting in order to participate and reply, students have to actively engage and utilize critical thinking skills.
  • for students who are shy or quiet, or perhaps unfamiliar with the english language, discussion groups in class can be intimidating. doing it online would have great appeal to students like these.
  • large-enrollment classes often suffer from a lack of student participation. online discussion provides these classes with a medium through which many-layered conversations may take place more fluidly than in a lecture hall of 100 students.
  • ideally, online discussion would foster a sense of community among the students, and would lead to actual discussion inside and outside of the classroom.
  • online discussion allows students to do quick online research and readings while reflecting, and as such they might cite this research to back up their point. the at-your-own-pace response time gives students a better chance to think.

additional sources:

online discussions: tips for teachers

vanderbilt’s cft teaching guide to blogging and online discussion

additional sources:

online discussions: tips for teachers

vanderbilt’s cft teaching guide to blogging and online discussion