Communicate 4.2.3 Discussions Forum

• What role or purpose do discussion forums serve in the online classroom and are they effective?

The discussion forum can serve as a tool to create student interaction and engagement.  They can also give the online class a sense of interaction between members.  Finally, the discussions can serve as formative assessments and places where students can try out ideas for larger upcoming assignment; in an ELA class, the discussion area is the perfect place to post a draft of a paper to receive peer feedback.

• How do discussion forums function as a teaching tool?

The discussion forum can serve as a low-risk way for students to engage in the course room with both the instructor and their peers.  By using the discussion forum, students can engage in formative assessment and practice for their upcoming larger assessments. 

• How could they be used effectively and ineffectively? Furthermore, what are some best practices for facilitating forums online?

The worst thing that can happen with a discussion is that it becomes mere busy work that the instructor does not monitor and/or engage in.  If they are just seen as a checklist, then often students will blaze through them without using them as a learning tool.  Some best practices for preventing this from happening include the following: 

1. As an instructor check the discussion thread a specified number of times a week.  Generally, 4-6 check-ins help the instructor to monitor students. 
2. Also when checking the discussion thread, the instructor should also post as well.  The posts generally do not need to be long, but should be focused upon the student's discussion, and ask pertinent questions.  
3. When posting make sure that all students in a specified time (generally at least two weeks) receive some type of response from the instructor in the discussion area.  If the students perceive that the discussion forum matters to the instructor, then it will begin to matter to the students. 
4. Finally, make a link between discussions and upcoming assessments.  There should be a specific reason for every assignment and discussion, and ideally these will be linked with the overall standards/objectives/goals of the course.

The discussion area can be a wonderful learning tool that most nearly matches the traditional classroom, but it requires attention on the part of the instructor to make this a reality.