It is essential to manage discussions effectively. The first discussion post should introduce students to each other. Guidelines for what is expected for postings, how often they occur, and the duraton of the discussions should be posted. Instructors should not be too quick to provide correct answers or intervene in a way that prevents students from thinking things through annd discussing them for thmselves. Rubrics are an effective tool for clear and fair grading and may include format, contribution, justification and responses to the posts of others.
