Discussion Boards:
Defining Your Goal
And Finding The Balance That
Works For Students

Truth Time

Everyone is doing it – it
must be the right thing
to do.
But I hated it!

Numbers were everywhere!

I was losing my
mind

Something had to give.

Back to the drawing board

I asked the question:
Are they even worth it?
I went to the source

So they ARE worth it
But what am I doing
wrong?

Then it hit me

Not all discussion boards are created equal
Class
discussion
Peer
Review
Nor should they be!

What kinds of things
do we assess using
discussion boards?

What is my goal with discussion boards?
•Simulate classroom discussion
and by doing that foster:
•Communication
•Class Participation
•Feeling of Community
•Make Class Relevant
•Critical Thinking
•Group Skills

Why do we have class discussions?

Do highly structured
discussion boards
really simulate
classroom
discussions?

In a face to face class,
would you make
everyone report on a
topic and then make
everyone respond to
three other people’s
reports?

And even worse
You would get a ton of garbage

But it is how I promote
community!
Isn’t it?

Again, I asked the students:

“They haven't helped me to
understand the lessons being
discussed. If anything they are a
distraction. In one class I replied
to every DB posted. That was very
draining on me time wise and did
not help me to know anyone in
the class or give me the sense of
community. “

What happens
when we have
discussions in a
face to face
class?

What happens
when you force
conversations?

And even worse
You get a ton of garbage

1.Start with a specific topic
2.Add a few points for the initial post.
3.Stress the importance of wowing your
audience.
4.Leave everything else up to them.

This student has
never attended
class
This is a guest
account

I do not make them reply
One student said “Reading the other
submissions allows me to get an
insight into others ideas, although I
don’t necessarily want to add a point
to their statements. “

Through the 4th week of the quarter
12 out of 19 students participating
Worth 1 extra credit point