Goals and Activities

The first step in designing your online discussion is to identify your goals for using this form of communication as a learning activity. Once you determine how an asynchronous online discussion will help you achieve them, design your discussions carefully so that these goals are met.

Possible goals for online discussion as a learning activity can include:

• Stimulate student discussions
• Prepare students for class discussion/activities
• Extend a prior discussion beyond the confines of the classroom
• Enhance critical thinking
• Encourage group collaboration
• Address incorrect assumptions
• Allow students to share community resources
• Open the discussion to outside participants
• Create more meaningful interaction with students who have different learning styles

Types of Discussions

1. Single Topic Discussion: This is similar to a group discussion in that all postings are listed in order and participants respond to the preceding comments, one at a time. This can be a guided discussion, for example, based on a class reading.
2. Threaded Discussion: Generally begins with one topic, and participants can respond to each other directly. In this way, individual discussions on subtopics may emerge, each following a 'thread'. Participants can post responses to comments at any time, in any particular thread of the discussion.

Depending on the class size, you may decide to hold individual group discussions for manageability or for individual project work.

Discussion Board Activities

1. Small Group Discussions: The class can be divided into smaller groups, each led by a student. Group leaders are responsible for facilitating the discussions and providing a summary of postings.
2. Brainstorming: Students can explore ideas for project or paper topics before making final choices.
3. Buzz Groups: Buzz groups consist of two people who discuss issues or problems for a short period. Partners can also critique each other’s work and provide feedback and support.
4. Case Discussions: Case discussions using real or simulated complex problems to be analyzed in detail and a solution or decision offered.
5. Debating Teams: Students improve their critical thinking skills by formulating ideas, defending their positions and countering the opposition’s reasoning conclusions.
6. Jigsaw Groups: Members break into subgroups to discuss various parts of a topic and then are responsible for presenting or teaching the information to the other members.
7. Add-on Discussions: One student within a small group begins a discussion and forwards it to another participant who adds to the post. It is then passed on to each member of the group. The last participant summarizes the discussion and shares it with the class.
8. Mock Trials: Students assume the various roles of individuals in a real trial setting.
9. Role Play: Students can explore ideas from another perspective.
10. Guest Experts: A guest expert can be brought in from off-campus to discuss topics.