This document provides an introduction to using discussion boards in VITAL. It outlines the session structure, which will cover an overview of discussion boards, setting up forums and threads, running and managing discussions, and case studies. The document then goes into more detail on the key features and structure of discussion boards, including how they are asynchronous, threaded, and provide a social learning environment. It also covers how to set up practice forums and threads, how students access and subscribe to discussion boards, and includes case studies and a checklist for setting expectations.

1. Introducing the Discussion
Board
Nick Bunyan and Dan Roberts
eLearning Unit
Educational Development Division
Centre for Lifelong Learning

2. Housekeeping - G.07
• Lavatories
– G.07 > down to the basement and turn left
through fire door.
• Fire alarms – none scheduled for today – don’t
use lifts - follow Fire Exit signs – muster point
is: Outside Natwest Bank under canopy
• Food and drink – Please no food in computer
lab.

3. Session descriptor for reference
The summer 2013 VITAL upgrade saw a redesign and enhancements for the Discussion
Board tool. This introductory session will focus on both the practical aspects of
setting up and using a Discussion Board, and introduce examples and case studies
from staff already using the tool from across the University.
The workshop will cover:
– An introduction, some general principles and case studies of using online discussions to
support student learning.
– Practical work setting up and participating in Discussion Boards, including the mobile version.
– Running online discussions – monitoring, moderating and tracking student contributions.
This workshop will be suitable for staff new to VITAL Discussion Boards who want to
integrate simple, non-assessed applications of online discussions into their
learning and teaching.
If you are already familiar with this technology and need more specific support
outside the scope of this workshop - online distance learning for example - please
contact the eLearning Unit to discuss your requirements.

4. First things...
• Sign-in sheet – please complete – mailing list
option
• Feedback at the end – let us know what was
good, bad, useful or useless!
• Introductions – us, the eLU, support available

5. Session Structure
(Approximate)
• 14:00 – 16:00ish > planned session length
• Introduction & Discussion Board overview
• Try out the Discussion Board
• Setting up forums & threads
• Running and managing discussions
• Case Studies & Checklist for online discussions
• Further support

6. What is the Discussion Board?
Long-standing part of VITAL – old tech?
Key Features of a Discussion Board
• Asynchronous and Recorded
– Takes place over time (days, weeks)
– Recorded in the module to revisit, review, assess
• Threaded
– Organised visually to follow ‘flow’ of discussions
• Another Social Environment for learning and teaching
– Online collaborative learning
– Learners from many backgrounds and greater numbers

7. Discussion Board - Structure

8. Have a go!
Side menu bar – Discussion Boards > Discussion Board
Workshop Forum – FIRST ACTIVITY
1. First – introductions – an icebreaker type forum to bond
the group
2. Second – having a go at an online discussion.

9. Have a go!
Side menu bar – Discussion Boards > Discussion Board
Workshop Forum – SECOND ACTIVITY
1. First impressions of using Discussion Boards – set up for
anonymous posts

10. Running and Managing
• Moderated discussions
• SECOND ACTIVITY Forum – will now switch on
moderation
• Now post anonymously – replies to peoples
first impressions
• Change someone’s role to moderator and
demonstrate the moderation queue

11. Practice setting up a new forum
Go to the eLearning Unit Workshop Test
Module > Discussion Boards > Discussion Board.
Practice setting up a new forum and working
through all the settings.

12. How students access
a discussion board
You need to create links within a module:
• Side menu bar > Add Tool link > Discussion
board
• Within a Content Area > Tools > Discussion
Board.

13. How students can quickly see new
posts to a discussion board
Subscribe option – sends an email alert to their
University account.
From the VITAL homepage > Global navigation
menu – this aggregates all posts for all of their
modules.
Via the Blackboard mobile app on their phones or
tablets. (They can reply to posts etc here as well)

14. Discussion boards within Group tools
Students can also access private (to a specific
group) discussion board as part of the Group
tool options within a VITAL module – you will
need to set these up

15. Case Studies and Discussion
UoL Staff
• Dr Laszlo Pazmany –School of Medicine
• Dr Gary Brown - ULMS

16. Checklist - Setting expectations
• Why online discussion are being used and how it
relates to the module
• How you want the students to write (tone,
formality, length of post) and online etiquette
• Your/tutor involvement and what it entails
• Some training in using the DB

17. Resources from Workshop

18. Resources and Further Support
• eLearning Unit: (http://www.liv.ac.uk/elearning/)
– ‘Phone and email help: elearning@liv.ac.uk
– ‘Studio Wednesdays’: afternoon drop-in every
Wednesday afternoon – 3rd Floor, 126 Mount Pleasant
(blog post link)
– VITAL Self Service: http://utils.liv.ac.uk/vital/
– Further training/support by request