The document provides best practices, strategies, and management tips for using online discussion forums effectively in blended or online courses. It recommends initially creating a sense of community, encouraging critical thinking and courteous discussion, using forums to support course objectives, and consistently managing and assessing forum activities. Example strategies include role playing, discussing current events, and using online videos to promote discussion.

1. Online Discussion
Forums
This presentation will
cover the following:
1. Best Practices
2. Strategies
3. Management Tips

2. Online Discussion Why use an online discussion
Forums forum?
1. Builds classroom
Best Practices community.
2. Allows time for in-depth
Discussion forums are the most
commonly used online tool in reflection.
blended/hybrid and technology 3. Facilitates learning as
enhanced courses. students reflect and
To create the most effective learning respond to each other.
opportunities for students using this 4. Develops thinking and
tool, there are some agreed upon best writing skills with
practices to follow.
facilitation.
References for the information in this
presentation will be found at the end of
the presentation.

3. Online Discussion
Forums
Create a sense of community by setting
Best Practices up an introduction forum. Here are
some tips:
1. Initially create a sense of community
through an introduction forum. • This should occur in the first 2
weeks of your class.
2. Forums should support course • Make sure your expectations are
objectives. clear within the forum instructions.
• Students should be directed to
3. Encourage courteous discussion respond to their peers.
through netiquette. • Set the example with your own
introduction and, for this type of
4. Encourage critical thinking. forum, respond to each student.
• This is the type to gently reinforce
5. Assess discussion forum activities. general forum
expectations/netiquette.

4. Online Discussion
Forums
Best Practices Forums should support course
objectives. This can be
1. Initially create a sense of community accomplished through:
through an introduction forum.
• Having students demonstrating
2. Forums should support course
key concepts.
objectives.
• Having students synthesize
3. Encourage courteous discussion learning experiences.
through netiquette. • Having students work together
to solve problems or come to
4. Encourage critical thinking. an agreement on a situation.
• Have students share projects
5. Assess discussion forum activities. and peer assess projects.

5. Online Discussion
Forums
Best Practices
Encourage courteous discussion through
1. Initially create a sense of community netiquette. Here are some possible
through an introduction forum. inclusions:
2. Forums should support course • Follow standard rules of grammar
objectives. and composition, not texting.
• Think and re-read before you post.
3. Encourage courteous discussion • Support your statements with facts.
through netiquette. • Show respect for other’s opinions
even if you don’t agree.
4. Encourage critical thinking. • Stay on topic.
• Offensive language will not be
5. Assess discussion forum activities. tolerated.

6. Online Discussion
Forums
Best Practices Encourage critical thinking by using
some of the following question types.
1. Initially create a sense of community
through an introduction forum. Exploratory: Probe facts/basic
knowledge.
2. Forums should support course
objectives. Challenge: Question assumptions.
3. Encourage courteous discussion Relational: Ask for comparison of
through netiquette. themes.
4. Encourage critical thinking. Cause & effect: Ask for causal
relationships.
5. Assess discussion forum activities.
Summary: Expect a synthesis of study.

7. Online Discussion
Forums
Best Practices
1. Initially create a sense of community
through an introduction forum. Assess discussion forum activities.
Assessment should match learning
2. Forums should support course objectives and should be known
objectives. prior to students participating in a
forum. Here are some examples:
3. Encourage courteous discussion
through netiquette.
• Discussion forum rubric
• Checklist
4. Encourage critical thinking.
• Having student’s self-assess
5. Assess discussion forum activities. • Having student’s peer-assess

8. Online Discussion Here are some possible discussion
forum strategies:
Forums
Role play: Have students use role
play to investigate an issue
from another perspective.
What’s in the news: Use
local, national, and worldwide
current events to promote
discussion.
Virtual Fieldtrips: Virtual fieldtrips
provide opportunities for
students to visit places you
won’t be able to physically take
Strategies
them. This can promote robust
Now that you have an idea as to some discussion and connection.
of the most effective ways to use Online Video: Use video to level the
discussion forums in your course, here knowledge base of your
are some strategies for creating students before a discussion
discussion forums. begins.

9. Online Discussion
Discussion Forum Management
Forums Tips:
• Monitor the flow and tone of the
discussion.
• Facilitate deeper discussion.
• Set a deadline for feedback and for
assessment and stick to it.
• Set aside a consistent day and
time to dedicate to your forums.
• If corrective action is needed, do it
sooner rather than later.
Management • Develop a consistent grading
assessment students can use
It is imperative you manage a regularly.
discussion forum in a consistent and
• Celebrate thoughtful student posts
timely manner for it to be an effective
and responses.
learning tool.

10. Online Discussion References
Forums Discussion Board Netiquette:
http://research.udmercy.edu/help/kno
wledge/page.php?id=11
Online Discussions for Blended Learning:
http://www.csus.edu/webct/faculty/dis
cussion-board-best-practices.pdf
Mastering Online Discussion Board
Facilitation:
http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/stw/edut
opia-onlinelearning-mastering-online-
discussion-board-facilitation.pdf
Forum Best Practices:
Presentation compiled by http://www.visioncritical.com/sites/defa
Leslie Lott ult/files/pdf/2012_02_VC_Discussions_
WhitePaper_Forums.pdf