If you ask instructors and students what the most time consuming aspect of an online class is, both would most likely respond that it is the discussion boards. For many, the majority of time logged into an online classroom is spent within the discussion boards.
For most online courses, the discussion boards are the main area where teaching and learning takes place and anywhere from 1 to 5 discussion question responses are required each week. Depending on the school, there are specific requirements for the initial response as well as requirements for the number of responses to other classmates. Typically, these must be completed on at least two days during the course week to meet attendance requirements, but again, this can vary based on the school.
Most schools also have instructor requirements as well – for example, one school I have taught for requires that instructors respond to each student at least once per week, as well as posting on three separate days during the week. Instructors typically have a tight turnaround for grading discussion boards as well.
The discussion boards are where instructors can showcase their expertise, expand upon key components of the lessons, ask students critical thinking questions, and further the conversation by adding additional outside resources and links. For most schools, the instructor’s job within the discussion boards is to facilitate the conversation and move the discussion forward, while at the same time enhancing student learning.
When put into words, this sounds simple, but I think most instructors would tell you that they spend the majority of their time in the online classroom focusing on the discussion boards and coaxing students to participate fully.
Many students struggle in the discussion boards and many others do the bare minimum to get by with a passing grade. Depending on the school, the discussion board requirements for students and instructors vary.
In order to make the discussion board effective, it’s important that both students and instructors are engaged within the classroom. Here are some tips that will help both instructors and students to make the most of their time within the discussions.
Students and instructors who are successful in the online classroom usually check-in to the classroom daily. It is important to login to the classroom each day and read through any new messages. By doing this daily (or even twice per day) it eliminates the overwhelmed feeling that comes with seeing 100 new messages when logging in after a few days absence. This allows both students and instructors to take more time to read and respond to the messages that are there and assures that important information or questions are not missed.
I also suggest that instructors and students write their posts in a Word document and then copy them into the discussion board. This eliminates issues with the discussion board timing out and losing work, as well as allows a spelling and grammar check. For instructors, these Word documents can be saved and information utilized for future courses as well.
The first few classes utilizing online discussion boards can be challenging, but once both students and instructors have figured out how to manage their time effectively and save their work, they can also be one of the most learning-centered and rewarding aspects of an online course.
About the Author
Jamie Weitl is a WAHM teaching for several online universities and raising three precocious little ones. In her spare time she enjoys writing, baking, and running. For more info, see my Google Plus Profile.
