Effective Strategies for Online Course Discussion Boards

Rob Darrow, Ed.D.

President, Online Learning VISIONS.com

Consultant, BayArea BlendEd Consortium

San Francisco, CA * Feb. 2016 Website: http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com

http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com/

In this session?In this session? K-3K-3 4-74-7 High SchoolHigh School CollegeCollege

Starting PointStarting Point Post a comment or question Post a comment or question

about this sessionabout this session Starting point: Starting point:

http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com

““Discussion Boards”Discussion Boards” Today’s Meet Today’s Meet PostPost



Discussion Board 1Discussion Board 1


Who do you think was one of the best Presidents of the U.S. and why?



B.C. CartoonDefine “Learn”

Teaching and LearningWhat the What the studentstudent is is doing and where the doing and where the student is.student is.

What the teacher is doing and where the teacher is.

What and where the content is.

My Belief: Tipping My Belief: Tipping PointPoint

K-12 K-12 Online Learning Online Learning already there already there (close)(close)

Every school will become a Every school will become a blended blended learning schoollearning school to better to better personalize learning for all studentspersonalize learning for all students

Ultimate goalUltimate goal: Personalized learning : Personalized learning experience for ever student to best experience for ever student to best inform their future college and inform their future college and career choices. career choices.

The Ultimate SchoolThe Ultimate School Provides learning for Provides learning for

students in the way they students in the way they need it, when they need it:need it, when they need it:– Face-to-faceFace-to-face– Technology EnhancedTechnology Enhanced– BlendedBlended– OnlineOnline

This is a journey, not a destination.It takes time to

transform thinking and teaching.

How many of you use online How many of you use online discussion boards?discussion boards?

Once a week?Once a week? Once every couple of Once every couple of

weeks?weeks? Once in awhile?Once in awhile?

Scaffolding Use of Scaffolding Use of Discussion BoardsDiscussion Boards

Weekly classroom newsletter Weekly classroom newsletter where a variety of students where a variety of students contributecontribute

Classroom blog with different Classroom blog with different voicesvoices

Other ideas? Other ideas?

Effective Discussion Effective Discussion BoardsBoards

Consider learning outcomes. Integrate with course learning outcomes and

course activities. Design effective questions or discussion

prompts. Set deadlines. Communicate assignment expectations. Use a rubric. Model expectations.

ResearchResearch Increased teacher-student Increased teacher-student

interaction and student-interaction and student-student interaction student interaction

= = positive learning and positive positive learning and positive

experiences onlineexperiences online



Many books and movies about Abraham Lincoln suggest he was the greatest U.S. president. Why do you agree or disagree?



Passive vs. ActivePassive vs. Active ““We have this We have this

new tool, let’s new tool, let’s try it out.”try it out.”

““Post what you Post what you would like to would like to do for P.E. do for P.E. today”today”

““Share how this Share how this concept may be concept may be used in a career”used in a career”

““Discuss the Discuss the conflict in this conflict in this story”story”

““Why do you Why do you believe this believe this event event happened?”happened?”

BenefitsBenefits Every student has a voiceEvery student has a voice Audience changes Encourages students to reflect, to think

critically. Allows students to share their individual

experiences. Requires more than simply answering a

question – involves follow-up and further interaction from participants.

May be public or private Important information literacy skills /

how to interact online



Choose one part of the first Bill of Rights and share an experience you have observed or experienced yourself.



Types of Discussion Board Types of Discussion Board Posts – It’s all in the Posts – It’s all in the

question!question! Constructivist Question: How do you

think this topic is addressed? Literature-Based: Based on the reading,

do you agree or disagree? Experiential: What experiences have

you had that parallel what you learned? Post building: Topic posed. Agree /

Disagree? Evaluative/Reflective: What was most

important to you? Why?



Online discussion boards increase connections between teacher and students. Do you agree or disagree?



Set a StructureSet a Structure Initial post by Tuesday at 5pmInitial post by Tuesday at 5pm Three responses to other Three responses to other

posts by Thursday at 5pmposts by Thursday at 5pm Final reflection by Sunday at Final reflection by Sunday at

5pm5pm

Teacher Lead vs. Teacher Lead vs. Student LeadStudent Lead

Teacher modelsTeacher models Teacher guidesTeacher guides Student lead / Teacher Student lead / Teacher

participatesparticipates Student Lead / Teacher Student Lead / Teacher

observesobserves

What worksWhat works Set a structure and guidelinesSet a structure and guidelines Define the purposeDefine the purpose Model best practicesModel best practices Make it regularMake it regular Grade it “class participation Grade it “class participation

grade” grade” Instructor participates Instructor participates



What is one of the most important aspects of online discussion boards in online courses?



ResourcesResources Edmodo (Elementary)Edmodo (Elementary) Various (free) online discussion Various (free) online discussion

boardsboards Discussion boards built into every Discussion boards built into every

course management system course management system (e.g. Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard)(e.g. Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard)

Further ReadingFurther Reading http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/AT

C/Collaboratory/Idea/boards.html

http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/issues/http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/issues/pdf/10.1.1.pdf pdf/10.1.1.pdf

http://jolt.merlot.org/vol7no3/http://jolt.merlot.org/vol7no3/cranney_0911.pdfcranney_0911.pdf

http://jolt.merlot.org/vol3no2/http://jolt.merlot.org/vol3no2/akin.htm akin.htm

http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/issues/pdf/10.1.1.pdf



Questions?Questions?Comments? Comments?

Whip AroundWhip Around

ContactContact Rob DarrowRob Darrow

[email protected] [email protected] http://robdarrow.wikispaces.comhttp://robdarrow.wikispaces.com

Bay Area BlendEd ConsortiumBay Area BlendEd Consortiumhttp://www.blendedconsortium.org/ http://www.blendedconsortium.org/

Education

Effective Strategies for Online Course Discussion Boards