Online Discussion Strategies

Many of us have been offering opportunities for our students to engage in productive discussions throughout our teaching careers. Relatively recently, many more of us have integrated these discussions online. This week, I would like to share a 2019 article which may provide insights on categories for Discussion forums by Smith entitled, "Making the Most of Online Discussion: A Retrospective Analysis." The author shares her experiences using discussion forums to promote learning, teacher presence, and community. In a retrospective microanalysis of discussion forums posts and interactions, the author identified five major types of discussion forums:

1. Content Discussions

2. Virtual Coffee Shop

3. Voluntary Product Sharing Forums

4. Collaboration Forums

5. Skills Forum

The findings indicated that in the "Content Discussions, students demonstrated depth of of conceptual application and abilities to voice informed opinions in diplomatic ways. In the Virtual Coffee Shop students became a community of learners and professionals. By sharing and responding to each other’s work in the Voluntary Product Sharing Forums, students gave and received feedback, and they had the chance to apply the criteria for success on assignments. In the Collaboration Forums, they worked in teams to apply course concepts and communicate their work. The Skills Forum allowed students to develop skills that would be essential to success later in the course and beyond."

Smith, T. (2019). Making the most of online discussion: A retrospective analysis. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 31(1), 21-31.