Online Facilitation Tips: Discussions

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Instructor Presence

Online discussions function best when students know that the instructor is present and engaged so respond to posts in a timely manner. However, resist the urge to respond to each and every student or the discussion will become a student-to-instructor interaction rather than a discussion among students.

Respond to strong postings with complementary feedback, asking follow up questions that redirect the conversation, encouraging more depth in student responses, playing devil’s advocate, clarifying confusions, offering insights, etc.

Actively refer to and draw from online discussions during your weekly announcements to ensure students see the value of their discussion in relation to curriculum.

Discussion Reflections

Consider grading reflections on a series of discussions rather than the discussions themselves. Ask students to summarize the main points, highlight their own contributions, tie discussions back to the readings and relate the themes that surfaced to their own life experiences.