Encouraging Students to Participate in Discussions
How can we, as instructors, encourage our students to participate in our discussion forums with substantive posts? Also, how can we get students to understand the importance of the discussion forums and how these forums will create a sense of a "real class"?
Dr. Zakevia and Traci,
Thanks for continuing the conversation. Sounds like you are keeping the interest going in your discussion boards. This is so important. Thanks for the tips.
Hello Traci,
Similar to fellow participant postings, I too also expand the discussion question by posing "what if questions" to keep the interest flowing and to also reinvent the question to attract all learners. For example, I may post a link to a recent article or story to spark the interest for others to fully understand and/or relate to the topic to enhance participation.
Zakevia
Emily ,
Yes, when you give meaningful feedback in a continual fashion, the students are more attentive. Thanks for your input.
I make it a point to be a constant presence. I’ve found that my continual substantive feedback on the forums keeps my students “on their toes.â€
Stanley,
Branch from them. Just because you "have" to do an assignment doesn't mean you can't branch out from it and expand upon it. Make sense?
Often online courses are tied to specific assign-ments that instructors are required to include. What then?
Suzanne and Traci,
Clear guidelines and expectations are essential. Helping the students understand is key. Thanks.
Ruby,
We learn as we go. I hope these forums and courses have been helpful to you. Thanks.
Hi Traci,
I feel it is important to establish clear guidelines for students. If they understand what is expected and why, they are more likely to participate in meaningful discussion. As instructors, we must also set an example by providing thought provoking follow-up questions and comments.
I also think it helps to provide links to outside sources that support the point or demonstrate the real life applications of what we are studying in the classroom.
Suzanne
I can see now that I need to change my grading system on my responses. The answers are as if they are just going through the motion and not really analyzing the issue and giving me a logical thought. I just haven't been successful with "pulling it out of them". I usually have one student in each class of 25 students who really wants to get creative about their responses. I ask them questions about their responses and they just ignore them. It's exhausting!!
Ruby Whitehead
Russell,
Right. . .even though this is a "real" class. Ha! ;-) It's good to help students make the connection.
Rhonda,
Good point. When you are specific and address individual students, they need to be able to respond.
The analogy I like to share with students is to think of our discussions as if we were sitting in a "real" classroom. The only difference is that we can't see each other in our virtual classroom. Our discussions, however, can be just as lively and interactive. It seems to help them to think of having conversations with each other and with me.
Dr. Faulk
I think the simple way to avoid this is ask specific follow up questions to individual students in the discussion. This puts them on the spot in which they don't have many options but to answer the question substantially.
Nate,
I use an easy rubric to grade discussion board posts. And, I provide examples of good/bad postings. Many times I answer a students' posting with another question. All have seemed to help.
These are two great questions. Ones that I additionally need feedback on. For me, to get students to post something "useful" to the discussion board and class, I usually have to drag it out of them. I do this by reading their initial response, then ask them a question in order to get them thinking and hopefully responding. I usually end all my responses to the students with questions.
I don't know how to get accross the importance of the discussion boards. I try to use points, or the lack thereof, questions, class announcements, emails, etc. This is a tough one. I think when students see that they are not getting full credit for their discussion responses, some will ask why and change their behavior. Others don't care.
Good Luck!!
Lois,
Change up what the postings are about. Start with low level postings that everyone can respond to and then build on that.
Students in an introductory course often say that they don't know enough to comment on other students' posts. How do you respond to that?
Marshall,
Persuasion is an art. Students need to be able to defend their choices, opinions, etc. and follow them up with facts and data. Thanks!
