Discussions are arguably an important part of the online course; a valuable learning tool for learners to process content, build understanding, and interact with each other in collaborative communities that are key to successful online learning. Yet online discussions remain challenging to instructors and students alike.
The reality is, even with interesting discussion prompts, both parties can get tired of the same old routine, consequently impacting overall engagement. Just having an online discussion space probably isn’t enough to actively engage your learners. You need to leverage the asynchronous nature of the discussion forums to craft activities that provide meaningful learning experiences and allow students more freedom and flexibility to synthesize their thoughts. To accomplish this, it’s important to understand practices that optimize this communication in efficient and effective ways.
What strategies can be implemented to increase meaningful engagement and facilitate discussion forums?
In an upcoming Faculty Forward Academy workshop, we will:
Join Olysha Magruder and Juliet Owuor in conversation with faculty members Stephyn Butcher and Buck Buchanan, for this workshop where participants will explore creating meaningful discussion prompts and enriching activities that promote critical thinking and maximize interactivity.