The purpose of discussion forums in an online learning classroom are to encourage students to post comments which show higher order of thinking and engage them. When this is done effectively, the online classroom has a sense of community and is motivating for the student. The discussions forums are effective and the instructor can use them to determine how well the students are understanding the content.
How do discussion forums function as a teaching tool?
The discussion forum functions as a teaching tool when instructors follow the Socratic Method when it comes to the questions placed in the discussion. This method helps motivate the students to think critically and draw out their ideas.
How could they be used effectively and ineffectively?
Discussions can be used effectively by following the best practices. The instructor should also have outlined instructions on how and when the student should post. If this is not done then the outcome of the discussion may be ineffective. For example, if a student doesn't know that he or she is required to post in complete sentences and site references then they may not do that. They would also need to know how soon their post should be submitted.
What are some best practices for facilitating forums online?
Some of the best practices for facilitating forums online are outlined in the lesson for facilitating forums online are listed below.
- Respond to the first thread of all student responses and ensure that the post addresses the essential elements
- Highlight selections from the prompt, reading, or thematic focus of the student’s response in the initial feedback
- Integrate audio commentary in the response
- Link to external resources, readings, or websites for further study
- Rely on the Socratic Method in all Discussion Forums
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