Asynchronous Online Discussions: What Works Dorothy Fuller Black Hills State University
Why do you use online discussions?
Most Common Goals Establish a social presence Foster critical thinking Support group work Monitor participation in assigned readings Keep track of attendance
What are you biggest problems with online discussions?
Greatest Disappointments Evaluation & feedback very time-consuming Participants post, but don’t discuss Too many messages, too little substance Messages are off topic or dissolve into informal chats Everyone waits until the last hours to post
What are your secret weapons?
Some Solutions Know what you want to accomplish Make grade values reflect importance relative to other course activities Clarify goals and protocols with participants Provide examples of high, basic and unacceptable quality postings Provide recommended structure and responsibilities for group work
Please visit my Poster Session to continue our discussion
Contact Information Dr. Dorothy Fuller Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD 57783 DorothyFuller@bhsu.edu