CREATING & FACILITATING ENGAGING

ONLINE DISCUSSIONSBy Dru Macasieb

DISCUSSION POST• Discussion Board Requirements

• Requirements

• Grading Rubric

• Don’t of Discussion Board

• Creating Discussion Questions

• Types of thinking

• Media to use

• Replying To Students

DISCUSSION BOARD

REQUIREMENTS

DISCUSSION BOARD REQUIREMENTS • Initial post must be 150 words due by

Wednesday of week.

• Initial post must have an in-text citation that matches an APA reference

• Must reply twice to other students, minimum 50 words each.

• Must reply to instructor’s replies

• All post (initial & replies) must be thoughtful, relevant, professional, and demonstrates critical thinking.

• When appropriate, use terminology from the text.

Category Percent Points

150 words (By Wednesday of Week)

50% 6.25

APA Citation 10% 1.25

2 Replies (50 words; by Saturday of Week)

40% 5

Totals 100% 12.5

Standardized Discussion Board Rubric

You must respond to your instructor’s replies. Your post must also demonstrate: relevancy, critical

thinking, logical thought process, and professionalism in your writing. Failure to do so will result additional

points being deducted.

Quick Guide Percent PointsComplete 100.00% 12.50

95.00% 11.88Missing APA 90.00% 11.25

85.00% 10.63Missing 1 Reply 80.00% 10.00

75.00% 9.3870.00% 8.7565.00% 8.13

Missing 2 Replies 60.00% 7.5055.00% 6.88

Initial Post only 50.00% 6.2545.00% 5.63

Replies only 40.00% 5.0035.00% 4.3830.00% 3.7525.00% 3.1320.00% 2.5015.00% 1.8810.00% 1.255.00% 0.630.00% 0.00

Category Percent Points

150 words (By Wednesday of

Week)50% 6.25

APA Citation 10% 1.25

2 Replies (50 words; by

Saturday of Week)40% 5

Totals 100% 12.5

Simplifies Grading

THE DON’T OF DISCUSSIONS• Do not attached the your post as an attachment.

• Improper or excessive use of quotes will not be tolerated (be sure you know how to quote a source before attempting to)

• PERSONAL ADVICE: DO NOT USE QUOTES

• Replies should engage discussion.

• “I agree” or “Great job” or “Interesting” does not engage discussion

DO NOT ATTACH!

PROVIDE CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS ON THE DISCUSSION BOARD

• Provide step by step instructors on what students need to do in order to get an “A” for the discussion board assignment.

CREATING GREAT DISCUSSION BOARD

QUESTIONS

GOOD DISCUSSION BOARDS HAVE:1. A solid course design strategy-

• where discussion forums support learning objectives

• students recognize discussions are meaningful. Clear, concise

2. guidelines and expectations for students (previous slides)

3. Well constructed topics/questions (next slides)

4. A skilled facilitator (that’s you!)

5. An assessment component (give students feedback through grades)

WRITING GOOD DISCUSSION QUESTIONSConvergent Thinking “Correct” Answers

Divergent Thinking Many Answers

Evaluative Thinking Reflective Answers

Usually Begin with: • Why • How • In what ways…

Usually begin with: • Imagine • Suppose • Predict... • If..., then...

How might...Can you create...

• What are some possible • consequences...

Usually begin with these words or phrases: • Defend

JudgeJustify...What do you think about...

• What is your opinion about...

Examples: • How does gravity differ from

electrostatic attraction? • How was the invasion of

Grenada a modern day example of the Monroe Doctrine in action?

• Why was Richard III considered an evil king?

Examples: • Suppose that Caesar never • returned to Rome from Gaul.

Would the Empire have existed • What predictions can you make

regarding the voting process in Florida?

• How might life in the year 2100 differ from today?

Examples: • What do you think are the

advantages of solar power over coal-fired electric plants?

• Is it fair that Title IX requires colleges to fund sports for women as well as for men?

• How do you feel about raising the driving age to 18? Why?

USE BLOOMS TAXONOMY

Okay for replies only, but not recommended

Good for discussion questions

Best for discussions

CREATE ENGAGING ACTIVITIES• Use video to engage students by embedding them or

directing them to a link

• use current issues, by directing them to outside articles

• have students do there presentations on DB by attaching the PPT and writing out what they would have said during their presentation, other students must download the PPT, and reply to the presentation

REPLYING TO STUDENTS

• All instructors must make an effort to reply to all students

• Once students have made their initial posts in response to your opening question, encourage participants to move into more challenging discussions by adding challenging follow-up questions, scenarios, examples, etc.

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Verbs

BEST PRACTICES• Respond to students post throughout the week

• When students do not hit requirements (150 words, APA reference, etc.) call them out on the discussion board itself.

• Set a day and time to reply to students.

• Since initial post are due Wednesday, I use Thursdays to reply to as many students as possible.

• Use Remind101 to remind students to reply to discussions

• Use in-class time to discuss the discussion board topic and posts

CONCLUSION• Standardized Discussion Board

• Requirements

• Grading Rubric

• Don’ts of Discussion Board

• Creating Discussion Questions

• Types of thinking

• Bloom’s Taxonomy

• Media to use

!

• Replying to Students

• Higher-order thinking

• Bloom’s Taxonomy Verbs

• Best Practices