I would email this student and let him know that I have read his discussion board posts and it seems that he could use some extra help. I would offer my help and see if he could let me know what the specific areas are that he seems to be having trouble. I would also let him know that he should stick to the subject of the discussion board and try to avoid adding any negative personal input that does not pertain to the subject matter.
I would first check out their biography for something that we have in common to use as link. I would then send a supportive email to the student that includes the commonality and offer set up a time to work directly with them one on one.
Diane,
Sometimes you offer help to students and they don't take it even though they do need it, how might you work with them to get them to connect with you for help?
Herbert Brown III
I would send a personal email to Learner 1 reassuring the learner that it can be done and reminding him/her that I am available for help. I would try to give suggestions on how to take the materials in smaller chunks so as to not feel overwellmed.
I think that it would be helpful to contact this student directly through email explaining that you've noticed he or she is having some trouble and that you'd like to help. To make this offer more helpful I think it would be good to make some concrete suggestions to the student about what could help and ask if those have been tried and if not how they work out when the student does try them. I'd follow up with the student periodically until it seems like things are going a bit better.
I think a post in the discussion forum that addresses things less specifically but that still shows that the instructor is dealing with these issues is helpful for Learner 1 and to show other students that the instructor is trying to help when these issues come up. So in the discussion forum the instructor might make some general suggestions and encourage anyone with those issues to get in contact.
-Sarah
